The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter

Tristan Sinclair, Viscount St. Ashton lived in a world of debauchery and wealth but then it all goes away. The life that he loved just did not feel right. He will visit a notorious house party and expecting to enjoy a month of drinking but then he meets Valentine March.

Valentine March is a companion and someone who is unnoticeable but she will be noticed by a notorious rake, Tristan. He will soon learn that she is not the drab little spinster she appears to be. Valentine will be tempted by Tristan, she will know that he is not for her but with one scandal her life will get turned upside down.

The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter by Mimi Matthews is the first book that I have tried from the author. I found this book to be enjoyable and refreshing. There is nothing new to this story line to make it original but the fact that I have not been reading a ton of romances could be the reason. This book was lighthearted and intriguing with Tristan and Valentine. I was cheering for Tristan to get his act together and to be ready to be with Valentine. I wanted him to be the man that was hidden behind all the debauchery. Then there was Valentine who was trying to get answers about her past. I found her story interesting and enjoyed the mystery of her life.

Based on this book I will be back to read more from Mimi Matthews.

Bedroom Games

Kandis Thornton was on the show for one reason, the money. She wanted to help her mother and the money would do that. Kandis had a plan going into the show but it will be blown away when she gets a partner, Brodie Short. Though as they work together Kandis wonders if something real could come from a fake show.

Brodie Short was wanting to be famous, that was why he was on these reality tv shows. His first show had him as a villain and he wanted to change that. He had become a flirt instead but his partner will have him wanting more.

Bedroom Games is the fourth book from the series Games by Jessica Clare. I really liked this novel. I am a big fan of Big Brother reality tv show and this was based off that popular tv show. Reading this novel definitely brought me back to the show especially with all the deals that are made between the contestants.

Kandis’s character was someone I appreciated because she was playing the game but even through all of it you could still tell the real girl beneath it all. I liked that she found lust with Brodie but she still kept her guard up around him. Brodie’s character was considered the villain from the previous book and I fully expected to dislike him but I didn’t. Within this game it is expected to sneaky and he did a good job, but you got to read his thoughts in the interviews and knew that he was starting to feel something that was real. Though all through the whole book I wondered if those feelings would truly last. I got the answer at the end of the book.

I am reading Body Games next.

The Blessing

When reading the summary on the book I wasn’t too thrilled. I thought it was going to be a sad book where brothers are torn and love never actually happens. I am a romantic at heart so I love the happy endings. But Jude Deveraux surprised me as I read the book. I thought it was going one way and she completely flips the plot. The Blessing is an intriguing story of family and love.

Jason Wilding can have anything he wants but for some reason he is not happy. Then his brother David calls. David has found love in a woman named Amy who has a son, Max. David needs Jason’s help with taking care of Amy’s son so he can woo Amy.

Jason agrees but things turn as he finds himself falling for Amy and Max. But there are problems and the main one is Amy believes Jason is gay. Jason has to go along with David’s farce but every minute he gets to know Amy the more attached he becomes and the more he wants to break his agreement.

This is the first book I have tried with Jude Deveraux. I like her style with creating the plot as it was very simple but the characters add to the drama. I devoured the book and hoped that Jason found that happy ending but then she threw in a wrench and I was shocked how Deveraux played the plot. But in the long run it made sense with Amy’s character.

The Blessing is one of many novels by Jude Deveraux.

Reap the Wind by Iris Johansen

The thrilling trilogy comes to an end as Reap the Wind ventures into the twentieth century. Johansen gives a fantastic finish which leaves the Wind Dancer a home but before it can be final there is still a fight that must be had.

Reap the Wind:

Some would kill to know what Caitlin Vasaro knows.  For the secrets she’s kept hidden all her life are the kind that the rich and the powerful will do anything to possess.  Yet not even Caitlin knows how much danger she is in-or how far someone will go to hunt her down.  But she is about to find out, when she enters a business deal with the mysterious and charismatic Alex Karazov and joins the hunt for one of the world’s most coveted treasures, the Wind Dancer, and ancient statue of legendary beauty and power.  But Karazov is a dangerous man who has an even more dangerous enemy, and suddenly Caitlin is thrust into a shadow world of intrigue and deception, unable to trust anyone, not even the one man who can help.  Now she must outsmart the cleverest of killers, a psychopath obsessed with the Wind Dancer whose ruthless plan spans continents and whose lethal rampage won’t stop at one death…or two…or even three-not until he finally gets what he wants: the secret Caitlin will die to keep.

This was a fantastic finish.  Johansen is an amazing storyteller with plot and characters.

Through the books I found that Johansen is a very detailed writer which gives them a certain complexity to the story. You devour more information because she gives you that.  You learn more about the past, how the characters work.

I have been finding out that Johansen carries her characters forward in her other books, series or regular novels which is fun to read.  In a previous book I found out that Andreas was indeed President and married to the movie star but it was fun to see how they first started.

Also Kemel is a character from Fatal Tide with Melis and it was interesting again to see how they started from the beginning and grew into the people they became.

Johansen creates her plot to be intricale and devious with twist and turns.  You do not know who is bad or good sometimes.  The line is blurred.  The series is a great mystery.

The villain in the book is truly horrible and gives the heroes a fight to keep their lives and to save those they love.  The Wind Dancer is tangled all up in this all because of perfume.

The plot of the book left me intrigued and fascinated by how the characters came around.

Some of the characters I liked were…

Caitlin who is the main character.  She is a strong woman with ties to Vasaro and only wants it to grow.  She gets tangled up in the web of lies but she is strong.

Alex is another strong man but he is unsure.  Doesn’t want to hurt Caitlin.

Jonathon Andreas is charming and I love his character how he doesn’t take no for an answer.

Chelsae is a perfect movie star who is strong and stubborn.  She is the loving mother and not perfect in any way.

Marisa is a sweet girl who had a trouble past.  She is strong in her own way and I love the end where she meets the man she is to be with forever which is told to you in Fatal Tide.

Kemel was a strange character.  You didn’t know what side he was on.  He was like Francois from Storm Winds.  He was helping those around him but for a great purpose but still a little selfish.  He finds the woman at the end, Marisa, who he knew she was the one.

All the characters were filled with complexity and depth which created a dynamic storyline to read.

Reap the Wind is a perfect finish to the trilogy and a worthy series to read.  I recommend this series.

Heart of the Dragon by Gena Showalter

For me when I come upon an author which I like I have a tendency to go through and read every book they have written.  It is sometimes a challenge for me to see how many I can read from that author in a certain amount of time.  Showalter’s next series I am trying is Atlantis and the first book is called Heart of the Dragon.

Searching for her missing brother, Grace Carlyle never dreamed she would discover a secret world populated by mythological monsters-or to find herself facing a sword-wielding being whose looks put mortal men to shame.

But there he was, Darius en Kragin, one of a race of shape-shifting warriors bound to guard the gates of Atlantis, and kill all travelors who stayed within its borders.

Now Grace’s life was in his hands, and Darius had to choose between his centuries-old vow and the woman who had slipped beneath his defenses and stolen the heart of Atlantis’s fiercest dragon.

As a first book of a series goes it left me intrigued about the rest of the books.  I think Showalter does a good job creating a plot that grabs and holds your attention throughout the book.  The concept of Atlantis is interesting to read as it is guarded by these different types of monsters.  Its a new take on Atlantis.

The characters were well developed.  Grace was very quirky and fun to read about.  She was strong within the jungle and at the face of danger but has a fun and sensual side to herself which is pulled out by Darius.

Darius I liked because as the keeper and King he is supposed to be ruthless and is but he still has a conscious.  It might be buried deep down inside of him but it is there.  He also hides his emotions from his men but that is until Grace gets into the picture.

Heart of the Dragon a great first book to the series filled with wit, intrigue, sensual scenes, humor and adventure.

Fatal Tide by Iris Johansen

Melis Nemid is treading in dangerous waters and she’s about to be dragged under.  As a marine researcher, Melis knows all to well the dangers that can lurk under even the calmest surfaces.  But not even she can guess how deep the darkness runs.  Only one oceanographer ever came close to discovering the deadly mystery that lies beneath the sea and he’s disappeared from the face of the earth.

Now Melis is the last one who knows the truth.  And someone is determined that the truth will die with her.

For what Melis knows about the deep-sea mystery is only part of a nightmarish past torn by violence.  She thought she had put that past behind her when she arrived at her Carribbean island home to research dolphin behavior.

But her peace and her life is about to be shattered by the arrival of a savage killer.  Someone-for reason unknown even to Melis-is cutting a path of destruction and death that leads directly to her.

Only one man can save her-a man who claims to be a fellow oceanographer.  He will seek to gain Melis’s trust, getting close to her secret and her life.  But what this enigmatic man really wants, Melis may not discover until it’s too late.  Because whoever is after her knows her nightmare intimately, and soon she will be forced to relive them all over again.

Except for the final nightmare.  The one she can’t possibly survive.

I was blown away when I finished reading Fatal Tide.  Johansen did an amazing job conceptualizing the characters of the book and plot to make this book something that is powerful.  Something you don’t want to put down to the very end.

The character Melis was perfect.  She had a haunting past that still was not resolved but she was still a very strong woman.  I love the fact that the past finally did catch up to her but she was getting stronger to beat it.  Didn’t hurt that Kelby helped along.  Another strong character but gentle for Melis.

The two together created the story with the added character Archer the villain.

There was tragedy, betrayal, love, strength, fear, and understanding.  All of these attributes created a fantastic book in Fatal Tide.

Lie By Moonlight by Amanda Quick

The last and fourth book of the Vanza series was an absolute delight to read.

Hired to tutor four orphan girls to remote, ramshackle Aldwick Castle, Miss Concordia Glade is pleased to find her pupils both eager and bright.  Indeed, they are bright enough to have noticed some oddities about their situation.  Provided for by an unseen benefactor, they are surrounded at all times by hard-eyed guards in the guise of gardners and their previous tutor, she learns, disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Stepping into this uncertain atmosphere, Concordia sees at once what must be done.  The plan is daring in scope and execution, but with the help of her four students, the great escape stands a good chance of success.  Of course, even the best laid plans can go awry…and even the most independent, strong-minded lady must occasionally accept an offer of help.

During an investigation into a woman’s death, private inquiry agent Ambrose Wells finds himself on the castle grounds  and in the middle of chaos.  The building is in flames.  People are dead.  And a woman and four girls are fleeing on horseback.  A confirmed loner, Ambrose nevertheless finds himself taking Concordia and her students under his wing.  His past has made him eminently suitable to protect them from the person behind the events at Aldwick Castle: a notorious London crime Lord who will stop at nothing to destroy those who know his secrets.

Their lives at risk, Concordia and the girls must remain safely in hiding until Ambrose is able to unravel the dark conspiracy.  But if the girls have learned anything from Miss Glade, it is the value of curiosity a quality their teacher possess in great abundance.  She has never been one to sit back quietly and let others take care of her.  As the danger circles ever closer, Ambrose adn Concordia must work together to discover a way out of the darkness.  In the process, they will learn a few lessons themselves about stubbornness, courage, and love.

The last book of the series was wonderful to read.  There was intrigue, excitement and entertainment.  I loved the plot of a teacher who takes four of the girls and manages an escape.

The characters were creative and enduring while the plot was entertaining.  I love each trait of the characters as they worked their way through the plot, each were unforgettable.

Quick leaves you with a smile at the end where everyone is moving toward the future.

Tidings of Great Joy by Sandra Brown

Ria Lavender is the last woman in the world to be swept away by a smooth line and a seductive smile.  Talented, sophisticated, and determined, she’s carved out a place for herself in the most prestigious architectural firm in the city.  And she’s just beginning to savor the fruits of her success when she meets a man who will change everything.

Mayor-Elect Taylor MacKenzie is handsome, charming, and charismatic.  Still, Ria never imagines that she’ll leave a Christmas party with him, or that, caught up in the magic of a snowfall and a bottle of champagne, she’ll give in to desire.  But the next morning she faces the stunning truth: she’s slept with a man she barely knows.  And that’s not the only surprise in store: eight weeks later, Ria Knows she’s carrying Taylor MacKensie’s child.

Desperate to spare her baby the pain and stigma of illegitimacy, Ria makes the only decision she can.  Somehow she must persuade Taylor MacKensie to agree to a temporary marriage.  Yet how do you propose marriage to a relative stranger?  How do you react when he meets your news with anger and disbelief?

Within hours, Taylor’s outrage cools and he insists that they marry immediately.  Suddenly Ria is sharing his house, his name, and something infinitely more dangerous to her  heart…a tenderness she never expected, a passion she can’t seem to control.  But afraid that Taylor’s motives have more to do with protecting his career-and his baby-than with his feelings for her, Ria will try her best to keep her distance…until the day tragedy strikes and teaches them both a lesson in miracles-and love.

Sandra Brown created a quaint story on two people who were not looking for love  found it in the mist of it all.  The characters are  unforgettable filled with passion and warmth.

A heartwarming story filled with mistakes, tragedy, blessings and an enduring love. Just right for the holiday season.

The Mason Sisters Series by Sandra Brown

The Mason Sisters series was not one that I heard of before I picked up Sandra Brown.  This series consist of two books one each about the two sisters, Elizabeth and Lilah.

Fanta C

Elizabeth Burke’s days are filled with the business of running an elegant boutique and caring for her two small children.  But her nights are long and empty since the death of her husband two years before, and she spends them dreaming of the love and romance that might have been.  Then Thad Randolph steps into her life-and man right out of her most intimate fantasies.

Elizabeth doesn’t believe in fairy tales, and she knows all too well that happy endings only happen in books.  Now she wishes she could convince herself that friendship is all she wants from Thad.  But the day will come when she’ll finally have to make a choice-to remain forever true to her memories or to let go of the past and risk loving once more.

The first book starts off very sensual, erotic and fun to read.  I loved that the character Elizabeth is a mother of two and has an alter ego for a closet erotic writer.

Adam’s Fall

Over the past few years Lilah Mason has watched her sister find love, get married, and have children, while she’s been more than content to channel her energies into her career.  A physical therapist with an unsinkable spirit and unwavering compassion, she’s one of the best in the field.  But when Lilah takes on a demanding new case, her patient’s life isn’t the only one transformed.

She’ll never had a tougher patient than Adam, who challenges her at every turn.  Yet Lilah is determined to help him recover the life he’s lost.  What she can’t see, until it’s much too late, is that while she’s winning Adam’s battle she’s losing her heart…as Adam makes her question her most intimate beliefs about men, about love, and mostly about herself.  Now, as professional duy and her passionate yearnings clash, she must choose the right course for them both.

The sequel to the Mason Sisters series was fantastic to read.  I loved the heated arguments they got into and how Lilah is always surprising everyone with what she does and what she believes.

Sandra Brown brings love to each of these sisters but in completely different ways.

The Rana Look by Sandra Brown

They called it the Rana Look…the exotic, one-of-a kind allure that only supermodel Rana Ramsey could deliver.  Now her beautiful eyes are shielded behind tinted glasses, her famous figure hidden under shapeless dresses, her trademark wild hair falling straight down her back.  Rana knows she’ll never attract a man this way, and that’s just fine with her-until she meets Trent Gamblin.

Ruggedly handsome, charming, and undeniably charismatic, Trent is the kind of man Rana finds irresistable…the kind she’s certain would never look twice at the “new” Rana.  But to her surprise, Trent seems unfazed by her Plain Jane look.  For he is drawn to a beauty that Rana can’t hide.  But the outside world cannot be kept at bay forever.  And when tragedy strikes, Rana and Trent will learn whether theirs is just an impossibly erotic dream-or the kind of love that lasts forever.

The secret identity is great and brings some fun for the characters.  There was wit and intrigue to the plot and characters.

But the fact that you get to read about models was interesting.  It makes me sick knowing what models go through.  What the public expects to see out of them.  All it is skin and bone but it is all fake.  Nowadays it is getting better but we are not there yet.  I liked that Brown dove into that topic.

Brown creates this sexy, fun and sensuous romance that you will dive right into.