Most Anticipated New Releases of May 2013

The following list is comprised of books my friends, family, and I are most looking forward to reading in May. It also consists of books by popular authors and others I've heard a lot of hype about. I am not flawless and sometimes I'll accidentally leave one or more books off the list that I shouldn't. Let me know if one of your favorites is missing. Sometimes my search techniques just don't work as well as I wish they did.

If you'd like to read a book's description, just click on the cover photo, you'll be magically transferred to Goodreads. Remember a book a day keeps the boredom at bay! Happy reading.

P.S. Sorry for the late posting. Things got away from me this month.


6th - Levitating Las Vegas by Jennifer Echols
7th - Cat Nap by Claire Donally
7th - Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield
7th - The Cursed (League of the Black Swan) by Alyssa Day
7th - Dead Ever After: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel (SSTB) by Charlaine Harris
7th - Dead Man's Deal (The Asylum Tales) by Jocelynn Drake
7th - The End Games by T. Michael Martin
7th - Eternal Demon: Mark of the Vampire by Laura Wright
7th - Fall of Night: The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine
7th - Grimoire of the Lamb: An Iron Druid Chronicles Novella by Kevin Hearne
7th - Highland Werewolf Wedding (Heart of the Wolf) by Terry Spear
7th - Icons by Margaret Stohl
7th - If I Should Die (Revenants) by Amy Plum
7th - Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan
7th - Killer in Crinolines by Duffy Brown
7th - Kneading to Die by Liz Mugavero
7th - Loki's Wolves (Blackwell Pages #1) by K.L. Armstrong, M.A. Marr
7th - Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell
7th - Murder in Chelsea (GASLIGHT MYSTERY) by Victoria Thompson
7th - Mystic (Soul Seekers) by Alyson Noël
7th - Nicholas by Grace Burrowes
7th - Pirate Alley: A Novel (Grafton and Carmellini) by Stephen Coonts
7th - Reboot by Amy Tintera
7th - The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller
7th - The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
7th - Time Thief: A Time Thief Novel by MacAlister, Katie
7th - The Tower (GUARDIANS OF DESTINY) by Jean Johnson
7th - TRUE by Erin McCarthy
7th - Unwritten: A Novel by Charles Martin
7th - Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? (With This Ring) by Abigail Sharpe
7th - Zenn Scarlett (Strange Chemistry) by Christian Schoon


14th - Inferno (Robert Langdon #4) by Dan Brown
14th - Ray of Light: The Days of Redemption Series, Book Two by Shelley Shepard Gray
14th - School Spirits (A Hex Hall Novel) by Rachel Hawkins
14th - Silken Prey by John Sandford
14th - The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison
14th - Towering by Alex Flinn


21st - And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
21st - The Garden of Stones by Mark T. Barnes
21st - The Red Plague Affair (Bannon and Clare) by Lilith Saintcrow
21st - The Runaway Queen (Bane Chronicles, The) by Cassandra Clare and Maureen Johnson
21st - Smarty Bones by Carolyn Haines
23rd - Theodore Boone: The Activist (Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer) by John Grisham


28th - Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry
28th - Deeply Odd: An Odd Thomas Novel by Dean Koontz
28th - Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare
28th - The Girl with the Iron Touch (Steampunk Chronicles #3) by Kady Cross
28th - Goddess (Starcrossed) by Josephine Angelini
28th - Haven Creek (A Cavanaugh Island Novel) by Rochelle Alers
28th - It Had To Be You (Lucky Harbor 7) by Jill Shalvis
28th - Leopard's Prey by Christine Feehan
28th - Love at First Sight: A Cupid, Texas Novel by Lori Wilde
28th - The Night Is Watching (Krewe of Hunters) by Heather Graham
28th - Of Triton by Anna Banks
28th - Once Upon a Tower by Eloisa James
28th - Sea Glass Island (Ocean Breeze) by Sherryl Woods
28th - Tempest Reborn by Nicole Peeler
28th - A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper
28th - Zero Hour (THE NUMA FILES) by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown
30th - Cloak & Silence (The League series, Book 6) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

• Title: The Light Between Oceans: A Novel
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Realistic Fiction
• Format: Paperback; 352 pages
• Publisher: Scribner; Reprint edition (April 2, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 1451681755
• ISBN-13: 978-1451681758

'The logbook tells the tale of the keeper's life in the same steady pen. The exact minute the light was lit, the exact minute it was put out the following morning. The weather, the ships that passed.(...) The log is the gospel truth.'

Every so often in life, circumstances line up, certain conditions are met, and emotions, which under normal circumstances would stay in check, go awry allowing someone's moral compass to go out of whack and allow them to do the unthinkable. Tom Sherbourne is the Lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock. His wife, Izzy, and he have been trying for years to have a child, yet every time they think their long wait is over, the pregnancy has ended in miscarriage. Now just days after the most recent miscarriage, a small boat, a dinghy, washes up on the tiny Island of Janus Rock. In the boat is a dead man and a small infant wrapped in a woman's cardigan. It's a lighthouse keeper's job to track any and all events. It's a light keeper's duty to signal the shore to report a dead man and a child have washed up on its shores, but in a moment of weakness. In a moment of insanity. The unthinkable happened...

"You know Janus is where the word January comes from. It's named after the same god as this island. He's got two faces back to back."(...)
"What's he god of?"
"Doorways. Always looking both ways, torn between two ways of seeing things."

This Tom's "Janus" point (ie crossroads). 

This was a beautiful and well written novel. Using a writing style I've come to refer to over the years as "poetic gesture", for lack of a better term, Ms. Stedman takes something as ordinary as a lighthouse and weaves terms, sights and objects associated with its maintenance, and the job associated with it throughout the story as she spins her emotional tale. Nothing rhymes, but by the repetition of associated terms and their symbolism it almost appears to. I think this is one of my favorite writing styles and I find it both beautiful and clever. Some examples of what I mean:

- 'Just like the mercury that made the light go around, Isabel was--mysterious. Able to cure and to poison; able to bear the whole weight of the light, but capable of fracturing into a thousand uncatchable particles, running off in all directions escaping from itself.'

- 'The line between the ocean and the sky became harder to judge, as the light faltered second by second.'

- 'Quicksilver. Fascinating, but impossible to predict. It could bear the ton of glass in the light, but try to put your finger on a drop of it, and it would race away in any direction. The image kept coming to Tom's mind as he sat thinking about Isabel after Knuckey's questioning. He thought back to the day after the last stillbirth, when he had tried to comfort her."

Some have suggested that 'the light between oceans' is a metaphor for Lu Lu (Lucy) being the light caught between two mothers. To me it is a metaphor for the area of gray between right and wrong and Lu Lu Lighthouse, as Lucy refers to herself at one point in the book, is the light that sets the two apart. The light that blinds one from seeing the black from the white. As Tom states at one point, 'A lighthouse is for others; powerless to illuminate the space closest to it.'

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. A beautifully written story that is thought provoking and emotionally moving. I ended up being caught between both sides of the story as we learn what truly happened that fatal day. Feeling awful for both Tom and Lucy's true mother. Knowing that, as a mom, what Isabel and Tom did was a terrible thing, but not being able to hate them either. This book makes one wonder if,  "Perhaps when it comes to it, no one is just the worst thing they ever did." A wonderful and stunning debut by author M.L. Stedman. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her books. I HIGHLY recommend this one.

Visuals to go with the review:
Lighthouses:
  Ms. Stedman didn't say what kind of whales could be seen by the lighthouse, so I thought I'd post a variety:
 For those of you with eBooks, here is a picture of the log book included in the book on the front and back pages. I'm not sure it they show it.:

Frost Burned (Mercedes Thompson, #7) by Patricia Briggs

Title: Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson, Book 7)
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Hardcover; 352 pages
Publisher: Ace Hardcover; First Edition edition (March 5, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0441020011
ISBN-13: 978-0441020010
Author's Website: http://www.patriciabriggs.com/



"When are you and Dad going to have a baby?"

A seemingly innocent question, yet it may have saved both Mercy and Jesse. Adam and his pack have been kidnapped. Had it not been for an inconvenient fender bender brought on by that oh so innocent of a question, Mercy and Jesse most likely would have met a similar fate. Now the race is on to try to keep from becoming prey to some group who originally claimed to have government ties, but in the loosest sense.Using her pack bond to Adam, Mercy discovers the pack's kidnappers are blackmailing Adam into assassinating a US Senator.

With tensions running high after the recent retreat of the fae, the recently outed werewolves seem to have become the target of those who are against the integration of supernaturals into modern society. An assassination attempt by the most visible werewolf/human liaison representative could spell disaster for werewolves all over the world. Will Mercy be able to stop things from escalating to the point of no return? Maybe...with a little help from her friends.

This is the seventh book of the Mercedes Thompson series and if you haven't read the previous books in the series, I won't lie, you'll probably get lost. In fact, I'd recommend not only reading the previous books in this series, but also all the books (or at least the last one) in the Alpha Omega series. Something big goes down in the fae world and I have to say the ending of  Fair Game was one of Ms. Briggs' finest. You truly won't want to miss it.

One of the things I love about Ms. Briggs is her ability to use smoke and mirror within her books. She has this uncanny ability to make you look in one direction all the while keeping something hidden up her masterful storyteller's sleeve. Something that you swear wasn't there until you go back and find the breadcrumb trail she left which, when pieced together, means so much. You got to love an author who can do this. It's one of the reasons she's on my top four favorite paranormal author's list. Her, Kelley Armstrong, Jeanine Frost and Nalini Singh each alternately take turns at the top spot as my ultimate favorite when their latest book comes out. Just call me fickle, but they know what I like.:)

Mercedes 'Mercy' Thompson, is a walker. She can change form into a coyote. She was born with the ability, but it doesn't have the same perks that being a shapeshifter would have. She doesn't heal super fast and she wasn't blessed with super strength. She does maintain her humanity, however, when she changes to animal form. She is also resistant to most magic including the standard magic used by vampires. She's brave, would help anyone who needs help, and is tougher than she looks. She's Coyote's daughter--yes, the Coyote from legend who is usually referred to as the trickster, but that is not a quality she inherited from him. She's fiercely loyal and inspires the same in her friends. She even makes friends that most would consider unfriendable such as a vampire name Stephen and a fae named Zee. Mercy is straight forward and doesn't play games. She'll tell you straight up how things stand and expects the same in return. She was raised by werewolves and is presently married to Adam, the Tri-Cites' area's pack's alpha.  She wears a lamb necklace which, being that it is an item of faith, works the same as a cross against vampires. At times it seems like she has more lives than a cat, but perhaps luck and good friends explain that better.

In Frost Burned, Mercy has to use her mating bond to Adam in a way she never has before. She's finally learning what it means to be Coyote's daughter and the ability that comes with it is pretty amazing. I think we're just beginning to see what she's capable of, and I'm looking forward to seeing her use her abilities to their fullest potential in the future.

Asil (aka the Moor) from the Alpha & Omega spin-off, as well as many of Mercy's old allies like Tad, Stefan, Zee, Ariana who we haven't seen in a while, make an appearance in this book. Items and events from previous books come into play with this one cementing both the Alpha Omega series and the Mercedes Thomas together more so than in her previous books.  Rumor has it that Briggs has ended the Alpha & Omega series which I'm hoping isn't true, but I can see how it would be hard to keep the two timelines in sync.

Asil is sent by Bran to protect Mercy and try to deal with the situation of the kidnapped pack. The big questions on everyone's mind is who is financing the endeavor and who is this attack personally aimed at? Is it aimed at all werewolves in general, or could someone have a personal vendetta against Adam or Mercy or is someone attempting to eliminate the Marrok? While the Marrok's identity is kept secret from outsiders, there is concern that perhaps someone is trying to coax him into revealing himself so they can eliminate him.

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. I loved the story, and the drama and suspense created as Mercy tries to save the pack while attempting to protect those left behind. The mystery of who is behind it all was excellently done. I was completely taken by surprise. Also I have to wonder if the rabbit dying might not be some sort of foreshadowing of what is to come? Before the drug store pregnancy test were created there was a method in which a rabbit could detect if a woman was pregnant. The term "the rabbit died" indicated that the woman was pregnant.* Somehow I doubt the foreshadowing, but dang this would be a clever way for Briggs to ease us into the idea, and if there is one thing I know about Patty, the woman is brilliant. I'm foregoing the Romance Rating Scale because this book isn't about the romance. 

Notes to keep you in the know:

* According to About.com, "Around 1927 it was discovered that if you injected the urine of a pregnant woman into a rabbit, there would be corpora hemorrhagica in the ovaries of the rabbit. These bulging masses on the ovaries could not be seen with out killing the rabbit to inspect the ovaries, so invariably, every rabbit died, even if the woman wasn't pregnant. The phrase, "The rabbit died," came to be a euphemism for a positive pregnancy test after the late 1920 and early 1930s."

( https://www.verywell.com/the-rabbit-died-and-the-origins-of-the-pregnancy-test-2757501 )

Timeline posted on the Hurog forum website (Patricia's forum for questions about her books). - I always tell you there is gold on author's websites, blogs, etc  and this is a prime example: (http://www.hurog.com/forum/index.php?topic=646.0):

Order of the Mercedes Thompson series:

 

Order of the Alpha & Omega series:

 Graphic Novel Prequel to the Mercedes Thompson series (I read it in a books store):

  

 Novellas in Anthologies for the Mercedes Thomson Series:

 

- "Gray" from 'Home Improvement: Undead Edition' anthology
- "Fairy Gifts" from 'Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy' anthology
- "Star of David" in 'Wolfsbane and Mistletoe' anthology

- "In Red, With Pearls" from the 'Down These Strange Streets' anthology

- 'Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson' by Patricia Briggs. It contains the following Novellas: #0.1, "Gray", "Fairy Gifts", "Star of David", #4.5, "In Red With Pearl", #7.4)

Novellas in Anthologies for the Alpha & Omega Series:

- "Seeing Eye" in the 'Strange Brew anthology'

- "Alpha and Omega" in the 'On the Prowl anthology' ***HIGHLY RECOMMEND you read before reading Cry Wolf, the first book in the Alpha & Omega series.***

Giveaway of Accidentally...Evil? by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff (Novella)

The Accidentally Your Series:

Accidentally in Love with...A God?

(Accidentally Yours 1)

Trapped for decades, a powerful god seeks freedom . . . and revenge. But the only thing that can save him is the passion of a woman's touch . . . 
Emma Keane is your average city girl trying to get a date. There's just one thing holding her back: the disembodied male voice speaking to her through her mind. Sound kind of crazy? Maybe. But crazy turns downright deadly when the voice persuades her to travel to the wilds of the Mayan jungle. There she will free his body-his incredibly hot, muscled, naked body.

Humans are so frail, so undisciplined, so susceptible to love. And when this ancient being connects with Emma, the feelings she sparks drive him utterly mad. Protective, keep-her-close, never-let-her-go kind of mad. Which might not be such a bad thing because from the moment the beautiful, passionate Emma unshackles his body, they are hunted at every turn. Now he'll have to do everything in his power to keep her safe. But will it be enough?

Accidentally Married to...A Vampire?

(Accidentally Yours 2)

“If you love her, set her free. If she comes back, she’s yours. If she doesn’t…Christ! Stubborn woman! Hunt her down, and bring her the hell back; she’s still yours according to vampire law.”
- Niccolo DiConti, General of the Vampire Queen’s Army.

THE DETERMINED VAMPIRE: Niccolo DiConti has faithfully served as leader of Her Majesty’s army for over a millennium, but he’d rather sunbathe in the Sahara than spend another grueling day under his demented queen’s command. However, no one has ever left her side and lived to tell. So when a powerful goddess prophesies he will meet his salvation—a human woman he must turn into a vampire with her consent—he eagerly rises to the challenge. After all, how hard could it be to seduce a human female into taking the immortal plunge? Harder than he thinks. Because his mate won’t be born for another three centuries, and when he wakes up in the goddess’ tomb, not only is his life a mess, but his destined female isn’t about to settle for a coldhearted vampire. Can he win her over before it’s too late? Not if his enemies have anything to do with it.

AN UNWILLING BRIDE: On the night Helena Strauss meets the fierce, devastatingly handsome vampire who saves her life in the jungles of Mexico, she knows her world will be forever changed. Because an attraction this mind blowing only comes along once in a lifetime—or existence. And when he claims she is his one true mate, destined to be his for all eternity, it’s a fairytale come true. So what if her knight in shining armor is a vampire? Nobody’s perfect. But discovering the powerful, overbearing immortal doesn’t “do love”? Deal breaker. Helena will flee and set out to accomplish the impossible…sever the otherworldly bond between them. And it turns out, Helena is just the leverage Niccolo’s enemies need to break the mighty warrior and wipe out his people.

Sun God Seeks...Surrogate?

(Accidentally Yours 3)

When 24-year-old Penelope learns of a new miracle drug that could cure her ailing mother, it’s the answer to her prayers. Until she sees the cost. But for every door that closes, a window opens. In this case, the window calls herself Cimil, and she’s quite possibly the most insane person Penelope’s ever met. Could it be because this complete stranger just offered Penelope one million dollars to carry her wealthy brother’s baby?

But Cimil’s brother isn’t your everyday millionaire. In fact, he gives new meaning to the word hot.

Accidentally...Evil?

(Accidentally Yours 3.5)

To read my Review, Click Here 

"Make no mistake, I am not the sort of god who enjoys playing games. When I return, you will tell me everything-who and what you are-then we shall spend the evening making love."

When Maggie O'Hare hears those words she thinks she's lost her mind. One minute she was traipsing around the Mayan jungle looking for her father's excavation site; the next she's accused of being immortal by a guy who swears he's a god. And as for the making love part . . . well, the fact that it sounds like a very good idea is a sure sign she's gone mad. But this guy who calls himself the God of Virility-he's superhot. And every time he touches her, something crazy happens.

Backlum Chaam has waited seventy thousand years to meet the woman Fate has chosen for him, and now that she's here, he can't believe his luck. Maggie is brilliant and gorgeous and everything he could have dreamed of . . . except that she insists she's human. But Chaam knows that's impossible-a god could never love a human. And if he seduces one, their passion could have the power to destroy mankind . . .

About the author:

 Mimi Jean Pamfiloff 

Visit her website: http://www.mimijean.net

Before taking up a permanent residence in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mimi spent time living near NYC (became a shopaholic), in Mexico City (developed a taste for very spicy food), and Arizona (now hates jumping chollas, but pines for sherbet sunsets). Her love of pre-Hispanic culture, big cities, and romance inspires her to write when she's not busy with kids, hubby, work, and life...or getting sucked into a juicy novel.

~ The Giveaway ~

I am giving away 'ONE' copy of Accidentally...Evil? by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Rules of eligibility:

- Must be a resident of the U.S. 18 years of age or older

- Winner must have or will sign up for a NetGalley account to receive the digital download

Please note: Winner will be getting a NetGalley widget to read ACCIDENTALLY…EVIL? So you must be willing to sign up for a NetGalley account if you are not already a member. Using the email associated with your NetGalley account is how the publisher will be sending the widget to allow you access.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Accidentally...Evil? (Accidentally Yours #3.5) by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff (Novella)

• Title: Accidentally...Evil? (Accidentally Yours)
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Paranormal Romance
• File Size: 316 KB
• Print Length: 118 pages
• Publisher: Forever Yours (April 30, 2013)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• ASIN: B00BOTU4AW
• Author's Website: http://www.mimijean.net/
• Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher for review purposes.

Margaret O'Hare had never found the 'one' and conceded she probably never would. Just when she'd decided something was broken within her, the unexpected happened. She found him. Perhaps he was the reason no other man had never been able to stir her emotions. 

Backlum Chaam had spent seventy thousand years without a mate which was ironic as he was the God of Male Virility. Gods, however, didn't have mates as a rule only humans did. His fellow gods paid him little respect, but he knew the importance of his job. Without copulation a species couldn't survive, and sex was one of the necessary ingredients to help "cement the bond between two souls."

Over the years he'd hoped one day he'd obtain a mate. He'd seen many relationships develop over the years and longed to have a meaningful relationship of his own--to have a mate and end his loneliness. When he comes across Margaret O'Hare and she can see and touch him he's overjoyed. He assumes she is the Creator's gift to him for his many millennia of hard work ensuring everyone but himself and other gods had sex. 

But as fate would have it, the universe can be cruel, and just as many men have succumbed, she may prove to be his greatest downfall or at least weakness....

This is a lighthearted,  fun, not to be taken seriously good time romp of a read. I was smiling, laughing, and shaking my head as I made my way through this novella. It served as a nice contrast to the book Gone Girl, which is notably the exact opposite of this book. I was simultaneously reading the two and I so needed the counterbalance this one provided.

Backlum Chaam, as I mention in my teaser synopsis, is the God of Male Virility. He's a prime example of an alpha male and about as sexy as they come. He was also a seventy thousand year old virgin. So imagine if you will a man, er, god who's craved a mate and intimacy for that long. He is not about to let her go and feels in his gut that fate has brought them together. Whether that is true remains to be seen as he realizes she is what she claims--a human. But humans aren't supposed to be able to touch or be touched by the gods. Is she truly a gift from the universe or could she be a ploy sent by the Maaskab to destroy him? That is the dilemma he must face.

Margaret O'Hare had been looking for her father who had been excavating an ancient site when he'd disappeared. Unsure what exactly had happened to herself, she'd woken up to find herself staring at a beautiful but naked man who was toweling himself dry after a swim. A man claiming to be a god and telling her, "I know exactly what I'm doing. I know exactly what you want." Was she dreaming or had she hit her head on something? If she was/had, she wasn't sure she wanted to wake up or stop the hallucination. One touch, one kiss, however, made her see he was telling the truth. With her father's life potentially on the line can she keep him at bay and resist his charms long enough to find her father? That my dears is one of many questions.

Overall I gave this one 4 out 5 roses. This was a very well written novella that didn't feel rushed like so many short stories that I've read. I didn't feel lost even though I hadn't read the previous 3 books to the Accidentally Yours series. I  felt I got a wonderful introduction to the world Mimi Pamfiloff has created, however, the novella ended with a huge cliffhanger that had me wondering what would happen next. So be forewarned--you'll probably be wanting to read the next book to find out how things will wrap up. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this novella receives a STEAM 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. If you haven't read any of Ms. Pamfiloff's books, this would be a great way to get a taste. A very fun and steamy series that would be perfect to read on the beach during the lazy days of summer.

Order of the series:

Lachlan's Bride (Highland Lairds Trilogy #2) by Kathleen Harrington

• Title: Lachlan's Bride: Highland Lairds Trilogy
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Historical Romance
• Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Avon Impulse (May 14, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 0062226347
• ISBN-13: 978-0062226341

Author's website: http://www.kathleenharringtonbooks.com/

Laird Lachlan MacRath, known to the English as the Sorcerer of the Seas, was reputed to captain the Sea Hawk, a ship said to magically appear out of mist and fog. He was said to be able to conjure storms which would toss his enemy's ships on the rocks so he could more easily plunder them. He was said to be a highland chief with the powers of a wizard. He'd been sent to England to help escort the King of England's daughter, Princess Margaret, and her entourage to Scotland where the young princess would marry King James IV of Scotland. It is hoped the alliance will bring peace to the two countries.

Lady Francine Walsingham is a widow of six months entrusted with the task of making sure correct protocol is followed on the royal procession of Princess Margaret to her new homeland of Scotland. The chaste widow is apprehensive about such a reputed Scotsman protecting her life and that of the princess's. She's managed to hide for the past six months behind her morning attire which she wore not only out of respect for her late husband, but for her own protection. Lady Francine is a young, beautiful and wealthy widow with a number of estates located in strategic positions along the border, all of which could entice ambitious suitors to gain her hand by unsavory means. She has no intention of remarrying, but the King will have the final say about her fate. If he deems her lands must have a strong male presences to keep them safe, then her single days are numbered.

Not all are in favor of an alliance being formed between England and Scotland. Shortly after leaving England, a plot is revealed to kill Lady Francine and her young daughter. Francine and Lachlan will be forced to pretend to be having an affair to conceal the fact he is acting as her full time body guard. What makes Francine a prime target is that the King has a soft spot for the young widow and many believe the two are having an affair. They hope by framing Lachlan for Francine's and her daughter's deaths, the King in his grief and anger will call off the wedding, thereby ending all hopes at an alliance. While Lachlan may be protecting Francine's life, there's no guarantee she'll be able to protect her heart from him. When she gets close to Lachlan it's like she's captured within one of his spells.

This is the second book of the Highland Lairds Trilogy. If you haven't read the first book, The MacLean Groom, don't worry. You won't feel lost, but if you're like me, you'll eventually want to read the first.

Lachlan is a very likable and mysterious character. He's been in countless battles but bears no scars. He's smart, strong, loyal, handsome, brave and everything a girl could want, but his fierce reputation intimidates Francine. While she may be hesitant with him, he is immediately drawn to her and makes his interest know to her from the very start. I simply adored the way he handled Francine.

Francine is a fun yet somewhat naive character. When she hears words like sorcerer and wizard being attached to Lachlan, her superstitious side shines through. She's smart, has a good sense of humor, but has a cautious side as well, which we later find out is well warranted. Lachlan has his work cut out to try to convince her to take a chance on him. Some of the things Francine did to try to convince herself there was nothing special about Lachlan had me laughing hysterically. Lachlan however proves to her time and time again and in many different ways that he is what she needs.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. I immensely enjoyed the characters and their interactions. There was plenty of drama and suspense woven into a delightfully delicious tale. I loved the twists and turns the story took and how secrets were revealed in their own good time. If you like tales with Highlanders in them then this is a must read. On the Lisarenee Romance rating scale, this one gets a STEAM 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.

Notes to keep you in the know:
Kathleen Harrington, the author of this book, attempted to stay true to many of the fact surrounding Princess Margaret Tudor's marriage to King James IV of Scotland. Margaret did indeed marry the King by proxy before journeying to her new homeland, she did  travel the route described in the story, and there was a stable fire.

Order of the Highland Lairds trilogy: