My Summer Favorites

As I approach the Labor Day weekend and the unofficial end of summer I realized I had an amazing summer of reading. Take a look below at what were my favorites between Memorial Day (end of May) and Labor Day (beginning of Sept). If you have some time this weekend enjoy one of these books! I know many of them will be on my to read again list. The list is in the order of when I read them this summer. Enjoy!

Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare:  This historical romance was hilarious. I had so many laugh out moments that I lost count. The H/h have a charisma that leaves you craving more. I had a great time reading this. I can guarantee there will be moments you will want to share the one-liners you’ll read. It is impossible not to like this book. You will smile a lot while reading it. This is my favorite book by Tessa Dare.

Out of Breath by Rebecca Donovan: The emotional hell Rebecca Donovan put me through to read how Emma and Evan make it gave me at least sixteen new strands of gray hair. It was an emotional roller coaster and I loved every minute of it. *For this book you will want to go back and read the first book in the series, Reason to Breath. As cliche as it might sound there were moments I had to stop and catch my breath.

The Letter by Sandra Owens: I read this book in one day. It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. This book was written in a way that captured my heart and soul. I had never been completely engulfed in a story the way I was when reading The Letter. In my review I stated if you could only read only one historical romance this would be it. Really? Who would limit themselves to one historical romance? It was that powerful.

Desire Wear Diamonds by Renee Bernard: Oh! I have waited for what seems like forever to find out who was the Jackal was that plagued the Jaded. It was an exciting conclusion to a fabulous series. Can I say having all six men in one story was aaaamazing! There is a quite a bit of action with all the usual Renee Bernard flare she puts into her stories. NEWS FLASH- it will be on sale ($0.99) this weekend Aug. 30, Aug. 31 & Sept. 1. So if you are still waiting to pick up you should and read it this weekend! I bet you’ll want to go back and start from beginning with Revenge Wears Rubies, to get the full picture of the Jaded.

Unleashed by Sara Humpreys: Yes! I added a paranormal to my list of favorites this summer. This is uncharted waters for me but I am so happy I stepped outside my reading comfort zone for this. I loved it! It isn’t over the top paranormal. It really is a great romance with really fun characters (and it’s a series!). If you are unsure about paranormal I would start with this book and see where it takes you. I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Untouched by Anna Campbell: Anna Campbell is an author I discovered halfway through the summer and I instantly felt that author/reader connection. I spent a good portion of my summer reading her books. This story was very dark and touching. The H/h have some big issues that need to be overcome and there are moments you are not sure if theses two will survive. I had moments where my heart just ached for these characters. It’s a beautifully written romantic story with twist and turns.

It was an wonderful summer full of reading. Many of the books listed here have full reviews on my blog. If you want more information please check them out.

Happy Reading!

-Romance Reader Girl

Book Quote Tuesday

“If I have learned one thing in my life, it is that lamentation and regrets only make things worse. A person must move on, move forward but never forget the past, but learn from it. If you ponder the ‘if onlys’ of life, they will drive you mad.”  -Lorriane Heath, She Tempts the Duke

This is the first book I read by Lorraine Heath. I love her stories and how she writes to a readers heart strings.

 

-Romance Reader Girl

Review: The Duchess Hunt (House of Trent #1) by Jennifer Haymore

Official Blurb:

Simon Hawkins, duke of Trent, is no stranger to scandal. Rumors and innuendo have darkened the House of Trent for decades, and it has fallen to Simon to restore his tattered family name. He lives by a strict code of honor, but when he is called home to investigate his mother’s disappearance, the distinguished duke will tangle with temptation. For there waits the only woman he has ever loved–and the last woman he should desire…

Sarah Osborne has spent her life dreaming of Simon’s touch. But dukes do not long for lady’s maids–or so Sarah believes, until a stolen kiss sparks a passion that could be her ultimate undoing. As the couple begins a forbidden romance, a cunning enemy plots to destroy the duke and everything he loves. Now, caught in a blackmailer’s web, Simon faces an agonizing choice: sacrifice his family’s future or break Sarah’s heart.

My Thoughts:

From their first meeting Simon and Sarah have this connection that only has strengthen through the years. However, Simon being the duke of Trent must keep his true feelings for Sarah at bay, his reputation pristine, his siblings out of trouble and the gossiping ton quiet about his unconventional parents. When his mothers disappearance calls him home to the family estate after three years, his feelings for his trusted confident and love Sarah will push Simon to make hard decisions.

Simon and Sarah are beautiful together. She is his yin to her yang. They fit splendidly and every secret encounter is fantastic, but sadly Sarah is not of the nobility and therefore not suitable for Simon. Simon could care less about Sarah’s roots but the world cares and to protect his family and to find his mother he must go against everything he wants.

“‘I wished it had been me,’ she said softly. ‘When you were dancing with Miss Stanley and the others. I wished you were dancing with me.’ He gazed at her unspeaking for a moment. Then he said, ‘I did, too.'”

I enjoyed this read. There is a lot of family dynamics in this book which makes it very fun and interesting. The love story of Simon and Sarah is wonderful and there were moments I was laughing and the next in tears, because life isn’t fair sometimes. This is powerful family story with lots of secrets and I look forward to reading the next book in this series to learn more about the Hawkins’. Well done Ms. Haymore.

Purchase The Duchess Hunt on Amazon or B&N.

-Romance Reader Girl

Renee Bernard dishes about Desire Wears Diamonds

Renee Bernard dishes about Desire Wears Diamonds.

Great interview a little different from what we’ve seen. Read what she is working on next!

Cover Reveal: ROMANCING LADY STONE by Delilah Marvelle

One of my favorite authors the lovely Delilah Marvelle is unveiling the cover for her new novella Romancing Lady Stone. The cover is gorgeous! I am looking forward to reading this book!

About the novel-la: 

He believes in destiny. She just wants to survive it…

At forty, Lady Cecilia Evangeline Stone thinks she has everything a woman could ever want. A title, a fortune, and four children who make her proud. After a marriage of convenience that was anything but convenient, she has no desire to complicate her life by including a man in it again. When her eldest son announces his engagement to a Russian actress in Saint Petersburg, Cecilia sets out to do what any good mother would do: stop the wedding. Unfortunately, destiny has other plans.

Konstantin Alexie Levin never considered himself to be a villain. In fact, he considers himself to be a Russian gentleman. Having grown up in a refined and well-educated family that embraced criminal life to avoid debtor’s prison, the only thing preventing him from knowing happiness is the rest of the world. Everything changes, however, when Konstantin is given a chance to start life anew and travel to London to collect an unexpected reward for saving a man’s life. To his surprise, he is about to become a hero at midnight to a beautiful aristocrat who desperately needs his help. The problem is…he wants to do more than save Lady Stone. He wants to make the woman his, all his.

WARNING: This book is Rated Double S (Sweaty & Sinful) and contains strong language and sexual content which may cause respectable people to swoon.

Buy from: 

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/348287

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/books/Romancing-Lady-Stone/rs3eLVUC6kaZECynEa6yvA

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/romancing-lady-stone-delilah-marvelle/1116522014?ean=2940148585695

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Romancing-School-Gallantry-Novella-ebook/dp/B00EMG37X0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1376757948&sr=1-1

Giveaway:

Delilah is giving away five (5) ebook copies of LADY OF PLEASURE (Kindle, Nook or Kobo, winner’s choice). Giveaway ends August 25.

Link to rafflecopter if HTML doesn’t work:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YTRhNTlhMGI2NjEwMzc0ZDllMmUxODliZTEyZmMxOjg=/

Meet Delilah:

Delilah Marvelle is the winner of the Reviewer’s Choice for Best Sensual Historical Romance of the Year and had Booklist name her historical romance ‘Forever and a Day‘ one of the TOP 10 Romance of 2012. When she isn’t writing, she’s digging through research books. You can visit her at her website at www.DelilahMarvelle.com

Links:
Website: www.DelilahMarvelle.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Delilah-Marvelle/73234401876
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DelilahMarvelle

-Romance Reader Girl

Review: The Devil’s Waltz by Anne Stuart

Official Blurb: 

Christian Montcalm was a practical man, if a destitute scoundrel, but his plan to bed and wed the delectable Miss Hetty Chipple would take care of that sticky wicket. However, there was a most intriguing obstacle to his success.

Annelise Kempton desired nothing more than to come between this despicable rogue and the fortune (and virtue) of her young charge. Certainly, Annelise understood the desperation that comes from hard times, but Montcalm would fail—she would personally see to it. All that stands in her way is a man whose rakish charm could tempt a saint to sin, or consign a confirmed spinster to sleepless nights of longing…to give the devil his due.

My Thoughts: 

It’s a breath of fresh air when both hero and heroine are upfront at the very beginning of what rolls they play in this world to everyone they meet. Christian Montcalm is rake and fortune hunter. He makes it very well known that he is looking for a fortune in exchange for title he will inherit. The honorable Anneleise Kempton is 29 year old penniless spinster with impeccable manners that has no prospects of marriage. Her job is to help guide and chaperone heiress Miss Hetty Chipple through society and help secure the best possible match.

From the start Christian and Anneleise are enemies. Christian who has affectionately given Anneleise the nickname “dragon” wants her charge Hetty’s money. The most effective way for him to get it is to compromise the young girl and force a marriage. Hetty a very naive young lady that likes the idea of marrying Christian because he is soooo pretty. Christian and Anneleise begin a dance of keeping the young charge away from the rake. However in this middle of this dance feelings come to the surface and danger looms over them where action is required. The question that runs through your mind while reading this book is, is money really that important when love is on the line?

“I hate to tell you, dragon, but that’s an integral part of the whole usiness,” he whispered. “If you’re afraid to touch me then we’re not going to get very far.”She lifted her head to look at him. “I thought I could lie back and let you ravish me,” she said with complete honesty.He shook his head, the smile hovering around his lips, his eyes intent. “This is a cooperative effort, my love. You have to do your part.” ― Anne Stuart, The Devil’s Waltz

I enjoyed this story by Anne Stuart. Her books for me tend to be really dark and yes this while this book is dark there is a lot of funny moments in it. I really liked the banter between all the characters. And of course, how can you not love the endearment “dragon” for a spinster heroine!? There is action in this book that comes out of no where which is a fun element for a regency. It was a good read and change of pace from Anne Stuart’s really dark stories.

Purchase The Devil’s Waltz by Anne Stuart on Amazon or B&N.

-Romance Reader Girl

Reviews will be up next week

Hello Readers,

I will have new blog reviews up next week. I have been under the weather and just bouncing back.

Keep Reading!

-Romance Reader Girl

Quotable Thursday

“I don’t know. What do people see when they gaze at the sky? Inspiration? Beauty?” She heard him sigh. “Truth be told, this view always intimidated me. The sky’s so vast. I can’t help but feel it has expectations of me. Ones I’m already failing.” He was silent for a long moment. “It reminds me of your eyes.”

-Tessa Dare, A Week to be Wicked

This is one of my favorite stories! 🙂

Pre-Release Review: Flirting with Fortune by Erin Knightley

I have been waiting to read what happens to the very perceptive Beatrice Moore, since finishing A Taste for Scandal. The wait is no more! Flirting with Fortune by Erin Knightley is all about the spirited Lady Beatrice Moore.

Lady Beatrice Moore is sneaky. Sneaky in a fun way. She likes to know what is going on at all times and has spent her youthful years developing her quiet sneaky ways. She cannot stand fortune hunters and has a way of spotting them quickly. However as wonderfully sneaky she is, her true passion and love is painting. Painting is what keeps Bea full of life and zest. Her idol is the late Sir Frederick Tate and loves all his works.

Sir Colin Tate is the eldest son to the great painter. He is a barrister in training and doing all he can to keep things afloat for his gran and younger siblings. He finally comes out of his studying whole when he is told that his late father mortgaged everything to the hilt and if the debts are not paid his family will lose everything. Colin resigns to coming out into society to find a wife that wants a title in exchange for her money.

Bea and Colin meet quietly in a gallery not knowing one another. There is an instant chemistry and easiness between the two. When Bea discovers that Colin is the her idols eldest son she is awe struck. With a simple introduction to keep things formal a friendship is born and they both become enamored in a fast amount of time. The relationship is progressing until Beatrice learns that Colin may not be all he presented himself to be. How did she not see this coming? Can Colin help her see that the secret between should not destroy the future that could be?

I enjoyed this book and have been waiting to see what happens to Beatrice. She has been a force in the two previous book in this series, so it was fun to read her happily ever after. This was wonderful story of two real people. Ms. Knightley does a wonderful job creating characters that you could easily believe to be your friends or even yourself. I was submerged into this story with it’s wonderful banter and mysterious elements. The family dynamic is huge part of this story as it was with the other stories in this series. This is a fun summer read that could be read a standalone, but I think you’ll enjoy the story more if you go back and start with More Than a Stranger.

A big thank you to Erin Knightley for sending me an ARC for an honest review.

You can purchase Flirting with Fortune TODAY  and other stories by Erin Knightley on Amazon or B&N.

-Romance Reader Girl