⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I felt like this title got off to a slightly slower start than the previous one, but I loved it in the end.
I love enemies to lovers stories and thought this was a great one. I really liked Christopher from his brother’s book and was really excited to read his story. Gloria was a very sweet woman and I enjoyed her backstory and getting to know her better.
I loved Gloria’s attempts at matchmaking and thought it was a very different way to have two people fall in love. I also thought the conflict was a very real one and that it was resolved in the best way possible.
I cannot wait for the next title in this series!!
*An eARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest view.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Friday, November 16, 2018
Kiss of a Duke by Erica Ridley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely adored this title!
Penelope is my favorite kind of heroine: smart and unconventional. While Nicholas was a rather typical rake, I thought his reasons for being one were interesting. And I just really liked him too. I felt like he had a vulnerability to him that most rakes don’t.
I loved Penelope’s experiment and it reminded me a bit of the movie Love Potion No. 9. I loved the reasons Nicholas found to spend time with Penelope and found it very easy to keep reading. I received an eARC for the next title in the series and can’t wait to read it!!
*I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adored this title!
Penelope is my favorite kind of heroine: smart and unconventional. While Nicholas was a rather typical rake, I thought his reasons for being one were interesting. And I just really liked him too. I felt like he had a vulnerability to him that most rakes don’t.
I loved Penelope’s experiment and it reminded me a bit of the movie Love Potion No. 9. I loved the reasons Nicholas found to spend time with Penelope and found it very easy to keep reading. I received an eARC for the next title in the series and can’t wait to read it!!
*I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
The Viscount Can Wait by Marie Tremayne
The Viscount Can Wait by Marie Tremayne
⭐️⭐️
I loved the first book in this series and, based on Eliza and Thomas’ interactions in that book, I was looking forward to this one. And it was a huge letdown.
Nothing interesting happens the first half of the book. The phrase, “show me, don’t tell me” kept going through my head. It was just page after page of Eliza and Thomas have the same thoughts again and again. It was maddening and I actually quit reading the book for a week or two.
I’m so over the hero that has slept with everything in skirts and feels entitled. I have no clue what drew Thomas to Eliza besides the fact he hadn’t slept with her yet. She was devoid of any real personality. And I liked her actual suitor better than Thomas. Thomas was a dick but it’s okay because he’s nice to her daughter.
I couldn’t figure out what they liked about each other, and it seemed neither could they. Thomas’ realization he’s in love with Eliza came completely out of nowhere. I remember checking to make sure I hadn’t skipped more pages than I intended to because I was so surprised by it.
I loved the first book and I will be reading the next because it’s plot was kind of set up on this one and sounds interesting.
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️
I loved the first book in this series and, based on Eliza and Thomas’ interactions in that book, I was looking forward to this one. And it was a huge letdown.
Nothing interesting happens the first half of the book. The phrase, “show me, don’t tell me” kept going through my head. It was just page after page of Eliza and Thomas have the same thoughts again and again. It was maddening and I actually quit reading the book for a week or two.
I’m so over the hero that has slept with everything in skirts and feels entitled. I have no clue what drew Thomas to Eliza besides the fact he hadn’t slept with her yet. She was devoid of any real personality. And I liked her actual suitor better than Thomas. Thomas was a dick but it’s okay because he’s nice to her daughter.
I couldn’t figure out what they liked about each other, and it seemed neither could they. Thomas’ realization he’s in love with Eliza came completely out of nowhere. I remember checking to make sure I hadn’t skipped more pages than I intended to because I was so surprised by it.
I loved the first book and I will be reading the next because it’s plot was kind of set up on this one and sounds interesting.
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
One for the Rogue by Manda Collins
One for the Rogue by Manda Collins
⭐️⭐️⭐️
An overall enjoyable read, even if the middle dragged.
I had been looking forward to this title since Cam and Gemma’s meeting in the last title. It wasn’t necessarily a disappointment, but I was still somehow expecting more.
I expected more fireworks given how much Gemma seemed to dislike Cam when they first met but they barely argued after that first meeting and I felt a little robbed.
I also don’t feel like I know either character any more now than I did at the beginning. Cam is supposedly a rogue but I don’t know what was supposed to be so roguish about him. And Gemma was stubborn. Those are their defining characteristics.
I did enjoy the mystery surrounding the fossil and didn’t know who did it (though I had my guesses) until the very end.
I will be reading more from Manda Collins.
*I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
-Reader
⭐️⭐️⭐️
An overall enjoyable read, even if the middle dragged.
I had been looking forward to this title since Cam and Gemma’s meeting in the last title. It wasn’t necessarily a disappointment, but I was still somehow expecting more.
I expected more fireworks given how much Gemma seemed to dislike Cam when they first met but they barely argued after that first meeting and I felt a little robbed.
I also don’t feel like I know either character any more now than I did at the beginning. Cam is supposedly a rogue but I don’t know what was supposed to be so roguish about him. And Gemma was stubborn. Those are their defining characteristics.
I did enjoy the mystery surrounding the fossil and didn’t know who did it (though I had my guesses) until the very end.
I will be reading more from Manda Collins.
*I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
-Reader
Monday, April 16, 2018
The Bride Takes a Groom by Lisa Berne
The Bride Takes a Groom by Lisa Berne
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The first half of this book was excellent which is why I gave it three stars. It went off the rails for the second half, however, and made it a much more tedious read in the end.
The plot in the blurb was resolved around the 40% mark. Part of what kept me reading up to that point was my curiosity as to whether Katherine became a better person or not. I was looking forward to watching Katherine and Hugo get to know each other again and fall in love. Somehow I felt robbed of that.
Katherine is beyond awful at the beginning. She’s a complete snob to everyone. But you know what? By the end I found myself liking her much more and realized she didn’t truly know who she was either. And I even kind of felt bad for judging her.
Hugo was crazy laid back throughout the entire book and very few things rattled him. And that’s about all I really learned about him. That, and the fact he loves his family.
A TON of stuff happened in this book. Unfortunately, this made it seem as if the author just threw a bunch of scenarios into a bowl and then randomly picked one as she went along. I praise her for trying a different formula than H and h meet, conflict happens, conflict resolves but I kind of prefer it. Especially when there are lots of small conflicts that only last a chapter or two before their resolution.
If you love letters written between characters, this book is for you. I happen to love this but there were just too many letters. I got to the point that I was skipping them completely.
Though this wasn’t really my cup of tea, I will still read Lisa Berne again.
-Reader
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The first half of this book was excellent which is why I gave it three stars. It went off the rails for the second half, however, and made it a much more tedious read in the end.
The plot in the blurb was resolved around the 40% mark. Part of what kept me reading up to that point was my curiosity as to whether Katherine became a better person or not. I was looking forward to watching Katherine and Hugo get to know each other again and fall in love. Somehow I felt robbed of that.
Katherine is beyond awful at the beginning. She’s a complete snob to everyone. But you know what? By the end I found myself liking her much more and realized she didn’t truly know who she was either. And I even kind of felt bad for judging her.
Hugo was crazy laid back throughout the entire book and very few things rattled him. And that’s about all I really learned about him. That, and the fact he loves his family.
A TON of stuff happened in this book. Unfortunately, this made it seem as if the author just threw a bunch of scenarios into a bowl and then randomly picked one as she went along. I praise her for trying a different formula than H and h meet, conflict happens, conflict resolves but I kind of prefer it. Especially when there are lots of small conflicts that only last a chapter or two before their resolution.
If you love letters written between characters, this book is for you. I happen to love this but there were just too many letters. I got to the point that I was skipping them completely.
Though this wasn’t really my cup of tea, I will still read Lisa Berne again.
-Reader
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
How to Forget a Duke by Vivienne Lorret
Vivienne Lorret-How to Forget a Duke
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely adored this title and can not wait for the next in the series!!
I am not the biggest fan of memory loss books but somehow Ms. Lorret made this one work.
Crispin was my favorite type of hero; grumbly, hiding his emotions, but unable to allow anyone he cares about to be hurt. His attempts to not care made the moments he let his emotions show even sweeter.
I really liked Jacinda, too, even if I felt she was being a bit of an idiot by refusing to rest. Her extreme nosiness kind of blew my mind but she won me over in the end.
Sometimes I really enjoy a story that isn’t all balls and parties, and this one didn’t have any of that. There was lots of action, however, and I loved it. It was very hard to stop reading because I just had to know what was going to happen next.
I will definitely be checking out the next in this series!!
-Reader
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely adored this title and can not wait for the next in the series!!
I am not the biggest fan of memory loss books but somehow Ms. Lorret made this one work.
Crispin was my favorite type of hero; grumbly, hiding his emotions, but unable to allow anyone he cares about to be hurt. His attempts to not care made the moments he let his emotions show even sweeter.
I really liked Jacinda, too, even if I felt she was being a bit of an idiot by refusing to rest. Her extreme nosiness kind of blew my mind but she won me over in the end.
Sometimes I really enjoy a story that isn’t all balls and parties, and this one didn’t have any of that. There was lots of action, however, and I loved it. It was very hard to stop reading because I just had to know what was going to happen next.
I will definitely be checking out the next in this series!!
-Reader
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Monday, April 2, 2018
What a Difference a Duke Makes by Lenora Bell
What a Difference a Duke Makes by Lenora Bell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lenora Bell is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
This book was a delight from beginning to end. I found it to be an easy and fun read without a lot of angst.
I liked Mari (although her pronunciation of her name drove me insane) and Edgar. I did feel like she had a bit more personality than he did but since this is a spin on Mary Poppins that’s to be expected. I did enjoy that Edgar was very growly. I often find children in romances to be either obnoxious or too precocious to be believable but I liked both of Edgar’s children in this book.
I felt like the problems they both faced throughout the story were real problems but they did seem to be a little too easily solved by the end. It was as if everything just fell into place a little too quickly without either the hero or heroine doing anything to bring the HEA about.
I am beyond excited to read India’s story in the next book and will definitely be doing so!
-Reader
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lenora Bell is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
This book was a delight from beginning to end. I found it to be an easy and fun read without a lot of angst.
I liked Mari (although her pronunciation of her name drove me insane) and Edgar. I did feel like she had a bit more personality than he did but since this is a spin on Mary Poppins that’s to be expected. I did enjoy that Edgar was very growly. I often find children in romances to be either obnoxious or too precocious to be believable but I liked both of Edgar’s children in this book.
I felt like the problems they both faced throughout the story were real problems but they did seem to be a little too easily solved by the end. It was as if everything just fell into place a little too quickly without either the hero or heroine doing anything to bring the HEA about.
I am beyond excited to read India’s story in the next book and will definitely be doing so!
-Reader
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
A Lady in Waiting by Marie Tremayne
A Lady in Waiting by Marie Tremayne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s hard for me to believe this was an author’s debut, it was just that good! I already can’t wait for the next title!
I’m not always a fan of the hero/heroine pretending to be someone else. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn’t. It definitely worked this time. I found Clara’s ruse to be believable and found myself on the edge of my seat every time she was nearly caught.
I really liked both Clara and William. Neither did anything that made me feel like they were TSTL and they were genuinely good people. And William’s tragic past! How very devastating!
The only issue I can really think of that I had with the book was the shortage of William’s POV. I would’ve loved to have been in his head a lot more than we were.
This was a fantastic title, and the next book is on already on my to read shelf.
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s hard for me to believe this was an author’s debut, it was just that good! I already can’t wait for the next title!
I’m not always a fan of the hero/heroine pretending to be someone else. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn’t. It definitely worked this time. I found Clara’s ruse to be believable and found myself on the edge of my seat every time she was nearly caught.
I really liked both Clara and William. Neither did anything that made me feel like they were TSTL and they were genuinely good people. And William’s tragic past! How very devastating!
The only issue I can really think of that I had with the book was the shortage of William’s POV. I would’ve loved to have been in his head a lot more than we were.
This was a fantastic title, and the next book is on already on my to read shelf.
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Thursday, February 22, 2018
A Duke in the Night by Kelly Bowen
A Duke in the Night by Kelly Bowen
⭐️⭐️⭐️
So this was my first Kelly Bowen and I enjoyed it and will be reading the next in the series.
I liked the plot of the story well enough but Clara was a tad too modern for me. She and August were both very one-dimensional, too. She was very independent and he was very stubborn and that was about it.
Aside from that, I felt the plot moved along pretty well and it seemed there was always something going on. I found the idea of the summer classes to be an interesting one and very much enjoyed that part of the story. And both characters had interesting backstories that were also believable.
I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
*I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
So this was my first Kelly Bowen and I enjoyed it and will be reading the next in the series.
I liked the plot of the story well enough but Clara was a tad too modern for me. She and August were both very one-dimensional, too. She was very independent and he was very stubborn and that was about it.
Aside from that, I felt the plot moved along pretty well and it seemed there was always something going on. I found the idea of the summer classes to be an interesting one and very much enjoyed that part of the story. And both characters had interesting backstories that were also believable.
I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
*I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
My Once and Future Duke by Caroline Linden
My Once and Future Duke by Caroline Linden
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't really feel like this book was worth the wait for a full length novel from Caroline Linden, but it was an enjoyable enough read and I will continue with the series.
I was fully invested until about the 40% mark and then found myself skimming and skipping. The first 40% of the book was very entertaining and I enjoyed getting to know Jack and Sophie. And then somewhere around the middle the book dragged a bit and I found myself skipping some pages without really missing anything. And the card games were so boring. The only thing I like less than watching cars games on tv is reading about them.
I liked Jack and Sophie both and found her backstory to be very interesting. It was nice to have a heroine that wasn't a Lady and a hero that wasn't a stereotypical rake.
I am happy to say that the book did eventually pick back up and I had an easy time finishing it. As I said, I will continue with the series and am quite excited about the next book.
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't really feel like this book was worth the wait for a full length novel from Caroline Linden, but it was an enjoyable enough read and I will continue with the series.
I was fully invested until about the 40% mark and then found myself skimming and skipping. The first 40% of the book was very entertaining and I enjoyed getting to know Jack and Sophie. And then somewhere around the middle the book dragged a bit and I found myself skipping some pages without really missing anything. And the card games were so boring. The only thing I like less than watching cars games on tv is reading about them.
I liked Jack and Sophie both and found her backstory to be very interesting. It was nice to have a heroine that wasn't a Lady and a hero that wasn't a stereotypical rake.
I am happy to say that the book did eventually pick back up and I had an easy time finishing it. As I said, I will continue with the series and am quite excited about the next book.
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Beyond Scandal and Desire by Lorraine Heath
Beyond Scandal and Desire by Lorraine Heath
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lorraine Heath is a hit and miss author for me so I was pleasantly surprised to find I loved this story.
The prologue sucked me into the story immediately and I never saw the big twist coming. I love romances that have a big secret throughout and it helped keep me reading. And I was so shocked! I found it completely plausible and it didn't pull me out of the story at all.
I liked Aslyn (even if I HATED her name) and enjoyed watching her progression through the story. I liked that she was smart enough to know her own mind and didn't hang on to certain feelings until the end because it was what was expected of her.
I absolutely loved Mick and thought he was a fantastic hero. I really liked that everyone thought he was a ruthless bastard (which he could be) but he was actually a good guy inside.
I absolutely adored this story and can't wait for the next!!
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lorraine Heath is a hit and miss author for me so I was pleasantly surprised to find I loved this story.
The prologue sucked me into the story immediately and I never saw the big twist coming. I love romances that have a big secret throughout and it helped keep me reading. And I was so shocked! I found it completely plausible and it didn't pull me out of the story at all.
I liked Aslyn (even if I HATED her name) and enjoyed watching her progression through the story. I liked that she was smart enough to know her own mind and didn't hang on to certain feelings until the end because it was what was expected of her.
I absolutely loved Mick and thought he was a fantastic hero. I really liked that everyone thought he was a ruthless bastard (which he could be) but he was actually a good guy inside.
I absolutely adored this story and can't wait for the next!!
*I received an eARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.