My Top Reads for 2013, Part 2

Here is part two of my favorite reads for 2013. In case you are new to this blog I have a reading obsession with Historical Romances. What can I say? I love the setting of Regency and Victorian England with happily ever afters. I am working in more contemporary and paranormal for 2014 but 2013 was the year of Historical Romances.

A Taylor-Made Life by Kary Rader: Tissue Alert! This book requires tissues and time. I am not going to lie, this book is about two young people with cancer. Now don’t turn away, it’s a great story full of romance, laughs, hope and yes, sadness.  Still wanting to run? There is a sequel planned. Now what book with the leading characters that have cancer have a sequel? Not many. You’ll enjoy this read, I promise.

 

The Letter by Sandra Owens: I have been telling anyone that will listen to me about The Letter. This is one of my favorite, favorite books. I find, Ms. Owens to be a words smith and writes emotion so well. You will want to cry and laugh. Let me tell you any author that can have a three-legged cat and rabbit steal the show is pretty amazing!

 

 

Lady in Red by Maire Claremont: A deliciously dark Victorian romance is what you get when reading this book. Ms. Claremont does a wonderful job creating a setting that seems like the only way out is to fight. Her characters have an emotional depth that pulls you in wanting to know more about them. I felt this book was about taking back your identity and fighting for what’s right. The road is hard but worth every hard step.

 

Darius: Lord of Pleasures by Grace Burrowes: This story stirred many emotions for me. It’s about a woman who wants a child and her husband is not able to help in that area. He husband finds a man willing to get the job done and a relationship is formed. It’s a slow romantic build and the ending is surprising and yes you will need tissues. Ms. Burrowes knows how to write a story that doesn’t allow you to put it down.

 

Sweet Madness by Heather Snow: Conquering demons is the theme of this story. The H/h in this book are trying to fight through their demons by helping others and hiding. Ms. Snow does a fabulous job drawing you into the story and to the characters. You feel the emotional pain and triumphs the characters endure. A powerful read.

 

 

Desire Wears Diamonds by Renee Bernard: I have waited for what seems like forever to find out who was the Jackal that plagued the Jaded. It was an exciting conclusion to a fabulous series. Can I say having all six of the Jaded men in one story was aaaamazing and worth the wait. There is a quite a bit of action with all the usual Renee Bernard flare she puts into her stories. 

 

 

If You Give a Rake a Ruby by Shana Galen: What I found great about this book and series is that not everything or everyone is as they seem. Ms. Galen gives her characters a depth that you don’t see until you really get into this book. She then begins to peal layers off and we see the characters for who they really hard. It’s wonderful! This book had mystery, suspense, romance, heat and humor. It was great!

 

Flirting with Fortune by Erin Knightley: This was wonderful story of two real-like 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. When reading her stories I feel so happy and when having a rough time I always know Erin Knightley’s books will put a smile on my face.

 

I read so many fabulous books during my book challenge that I probably could post two additional blog post about them but then they wouldn’t be my top picks. If you have time this weekend pick up one of these books, I know you won’t be disappointed.

To my fellow American friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. To my friends around the world enjoy the rest of the week and enjoy your weekend. I hope you all find time to get some reading in.

-Romance Reader Girl

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Heather Snow’s Veiled Seduction Series

Happy Friday Readers!

Have you ever a moment while reading a book where you stop and think, “oh my, this author really gets me. They wrote this book to connect with me.”? I have had those moments with just a handful of authors. I hold them dear to my heart and among my favorites of all time. They go on my must buy and recommend reading lists. Readers, I added a new author to my special list by the name of HEATHER SNOW. Her writing is fresh and captivating. I will drop everything to read her stories. In one word she is       A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The heroines she creates are strong, intelligent and funny. Sometimes in the historical romance world we get bombarded with the heroine that is shy and timid, with the big strapping hero that comes and plucks her out of the crowd and they fall in the love. Don’t get me wrong those happily ever afters are fun, but sometimes you need a little more spitfire and creativity to pull you through the story. Heather Snow brings that wonderful creativity in her Veiled Seduction series.

I was captivated in Sweet Enemy by the 24 year old scientist Liliana Claremont. When he stumbles upon evidence that perhaps her fathers death wasn’t random, but planned, she turns to science to help solve the crime. Finding letters from the late Earl of Stratford she realizes that she needs to get to the late Earl’s estate to find clues to her fathers death. She luckily has an aunt and cousin invited to a house party hosted by the current Earl of Stratford, Geoffrey Wentworth and she is on her way to Strophsire to find what evidence she can.  When she arrives to house party Geoffrey Wentworth zero’s in on her and realizes she is up to something. Most the women that are attending the house party of their to snag him, for a husband. However, this enchanting young lady is showing no interest in finding a husband. Geoffrey is determined to find out what she’s about. Though, doing so might lead them down a path they both were not ready for. 

I was intrigued in Sweet Deception by Emmeline (Emma) Wallingford, as she is a mathematics and puzzle solving wizard. Emma has been acting in secret as the magistrate for Derbyshire since her elder brother had a stroke. She has been doing a fantastic job all these years solving crimes, while giving her brother all the credit. However, that becomes difficult when a man from her past wonders back into Derbyshire. Lord Frederick (Derick) Aveline has not been home in nearly a decade. He has been a spy for both the English and French. He has been asked to go back to his roots to find a traitor. When getting back to his home he finds Emma as the beautiful spitfire hiding something. Old feelings surface for both that they both have a hard time ignoring them or one another. These two have a lot of fun (vocal and physical) trying to understand one another and find who the hidden traitor is. Who’s mysterious secret will be discovered first…. Emma’s or Derick’s? 

I was left speechless in Sweet Madness. Widow, Lady Penelope Bridgeman, Baroness Manton uses her husband’s death to help others suffering from emotional distresses. She has studied maladies of the mind and spirit, spending most of her time with returning soldiers from the war. This is her way to give back and honor her husband. Penelope wears the wound of not being able to help or save her dear Michael. Gabriel Devereaux, the Marquess of Bromwich was the cousin to Penelope’s late husband. Gabriel’s mother has asked Penelope to visit him in a private sanatorium to help him. Gabriel has more clear moments of sanity than emotional distress, when Penelope is with him. He feels he is not worth the time to save, but Penelope see’s more than the distresses. She sees a brave and strong man underneath waiting to return. In turn Gabriel see’s Penelope as a woman that is not fulling living life, hiding behind the distress of others to not overcome hers. Can they both overcome their struggles to find happiness? 

All three of these books have strong heroines that are stepping outside the box to be more and give more to the world. All three of amazing and different. They are role models and I want to grow up and be them. The three stories are written beautifully and there is emotion of all kinds. Heather Snow is a brilliant writer. She writes with passion and as reader you are captivated, intrigued and often left speechless.

You can buy any one of these books on Amazon or Barnes Noble.

Reach out to Heather Snow via her website or Facebook.

-Romance Reader Girl