#258 (#57 of 2012) - One Touch of Scandal ~ Liz Carlyle

Available on Kindle, although I picked up a paperback at Dig for Victory in August.

5 star read

#183 (#119) - Devil to Pay ~ Liz Carlyle - RE-READ

Just as good as a re-read - see original post HERE. In fact I would say having read it again it's probably worth another half star to 4.5.

Phew, I'm officially caught up with my list of books .... about time too, and just in time in fact for starting a new one this afternoon.

#127 (#63) - No True Gentleman ~ Liz Carlyle

ISBN: 978-0-7434-3784-4

To protect a lady from danger in the Park, Max De Rohan kisses her senseless ........ Lady Catherine Wodeway knonws that is something no true gentleman would ever do without the proper introduction, not even to save her life!

His dark and dangerous good looks, together with his brooding maleness somehow lead her along to forget that she is in fact a Lady.

A 3 *** Star read, not as good as some of the others, but nice to tie up a few names in the whole picture.  Lovely to see George Kemble again .... sadly not that violent, but a girl can hope for the future!! ***

#123 (#59) -Wicked All Day ~ Liz Carlyle

ISBN: 978-1-4104-2344-3

A very quick review on this one  .....   as in a rush to get it back to library (overdue bad me!!).  A 3 *** Star rating as in my opinion not quite as good as others (no George Kemble or real jeopardy either) and actual content a wee bit thin on the ground.  In my humble opinion I think she missed the chance to write a real winner with the jealous mistress causing a lot more harm along the way.

Zoe Armstrong, bastard daughter of the Earl of Rannouch and friend of Miss Phaedra Northampton (#106 - Tempted All Night) , a complete flirt and up for any old rig is caught in a very compromising situation with her childhood friend, Lord Robin by his older brother, Marquess of Mercer and his spiteful mistress.

Robin is given no alternative other than to offer for Zoe to save her already tarnished reputation, and they hie off to the home of the Marquess for the summer, and it is intended that they will marry before the new Season.

Unfortunately, Robin comes to realise that he in actual fact in love with his mistress, and Zoe fights against an ever growing attraction for the Marquess.

Robin goes off the rails, drinks, makes very merry at the local tavern and has was it very nearly a fatal accident .... so do they go through with the marriage and make the best of a bad lot?

Kay

A flavour of what Tempted All Night feels like

A fun little Youtube video that I found, and forgot to share with you.



Kay

#106 (#42) - Tempted All Night ~ Liz Carlyle

ISBN: 978-1-4165-9313-3

It was a complete delight to get my hands on another Liz Carlyle book ... it didn't disappoint ... up to her usual standard with a 4 **** Star rating. Well written and witty, featuring yet again Mr Kemble, although there was a little disappointment that he wasn't that wonderfully violet in this one.

Lady Phaedra Northampton (the Sister of Lord Nash) is a very proper and quiet English Miss, only really it seems interested in her Bluestocking pursuits - she does, however, have a dark secret in her past.

When her Maid's Sister goes missing from the village she gets pulled into the seedy underworld to try and find out what happended to her.  When she's almost the witness to a murder, she develops a new friendship, and meets the former mercenary Tristan Talbot, Lord Avoncilffe, who has been asked to investigate the dark secrets behind a spy ring which disguises its activities behind a notorious brothel.

In what should have been a simple assignment the pair become deliciously entangled against deadly enemies and their passionate natures.

It's on to the last of the Loveday series now, which I'm not all that hopeful for.

#64 ~Two Little Lies

ISBN: 0-7499-0762-2

I've been waiting to read this middle book in the One, Two, Three trilogy for want of a better way to describe them.

Quin Hewitt has lead a rakish and devil may care existence since he was released on London as a callow youth.  At the age of 20 he fell in love with an Opera Singer, Viviana Alessandri.  He refused to marry her, and she went back to Italy to become the Contessa Bergonzi di Vicenza very shortly afterwards.

Eventually he succeeds to an earldom, and is under pressure to find a wife.  So engages himself to Esme Hamilton, and a small family dinner is arranged to celebrate the happy event.

Meanwhile, Viviana returns to England with Quin's uncle (to work on an opera with her Father's long time friend and Uncle to Quin).  She inadvertently accepts an invitation to a small family dinner, not putting two and two together.

Both come face to face, and one thing leads to another, with Quin and Vivie and found in a very compromising position across his desk by Esme.  She rightly calls off the engagement and goes home.

Will the old resentments held by both of them be resolved, and will they find love.  Will Quin find out the reason by Vivie's sudden departure back home to marry the Conte?

A very enjoyable and  4 **** star read.

Hugs


Kay

#53 - Devil to Pay ~ Liz Carlyle (Kindle e-book)

This is the first ever Kindle e-book I've ever had, and have been so pleased with the Kindle.  It feels really strange to pick up a book again!  Therefore it was lovely to start off my career as a Kindle reader with one of my favourite authors, Liz Carlyle and The Devil to Pay.

Especially as it was the story of George Kemble's sister Sidonie Saint-Goddard and her Aleric, Marquess of Devellyn.

A fabulous story of lover conquering the social layers and respectability, and thankfully winning.

Both of the characters, and supporting cast were truly believable and heat-warming, and nothing annoyed me at all on any level!  Especially good to get lots of lovely background revealed on George.

A 4 **** Star read.

Happy reading.

Kay xoxo

#48 - One Little Sin ~ Liz Carlyle

ISBN: 0-7499-0761-4

This is the story of Merrick MacLachlan's elder brother, Sir Alasdair MacLachlan and Esmee Hamilton.

Upon her Mother's death Esmee is thrown out of her Step-Father's house along with her Sister, Sorcha.  Sorcha is the product of a love affair that her Mother apparently had with Alasdair MacLachlan, who is a notorious rake and scoundrel.

Esmee journeys to London to track down the hapless Earl and insist that he stands up to his actions, and takes on Sorcha.  Without any idea how to deal with children, he persuades Esmee to stay as well - despite the consequences on her reputation - to act as Sorcha's Governess.

The only family apart from Sorcha Esmee has is her Aunt who is away on an overseas trip, and despite writing many times there is no way of knowing how long she will be away.

Eventually the Aunt returns, and Sir Alasdair is astounded to find out that it is the formidable Lady Tatton.

Lady Tatton is horrified and scandalised that Esmee has been under the roof of an un-married man - especially one with the reputation that Alasdair has gained - and whisks off Eseme determined to hush up an scandal and find the girl a husband.

Fate however decides that Esmee and Alasdair should be together.

A fabulously enjoyalbe and spellbind story, which I had great difficulty to put down.

5 ***** Stars from me.

Happy reading.

Kay xoxoxo

#47 - Three Little Secrets ~ Liz Carlyle

ISBN:  0-7499-0764-9

Whilst this is really a story of all things mis-placed:  love; pride; trust in a parent.  Eventually, it just proves that love will win through and can overcome the enormous hurdles put in its way by the things that were mis-placed.

This engaging and intriguing story by one of my favourite authors, Liz Carylyle, engaged me all the way through.

The story of Merrick MacLachlan and Lady Meredith Bessett.

I would say a 5 ***** Star read.  I thoroughly enjoyed snuggling down by the log burner to read this exceptionally well crafted story.  I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Hugs

Kay

#41 - Never Romance a Rake ~ Liz Carlyle

ISBN:  1416527168

The story of Kieran, Baron Rothwell and Camille Marchand, the illigitamate Daughter of the Comte de Valigny ....... or is she.

I would love to have written a review other than the basic star rating, but it's been swiped and taken back to library without me realising it, and I like to check the facts before I set finger to keyboard.

I will say though that I thoroughly enjoyed this the last in the Never Trilogy.  Kieran is the kind of dark and brooding hero I love, but I did feel so much sympathy for Camille.

A 3.5 star **** read, and I can thoroughly recommended you give it a whirl.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#29 - Never Deceive a Duke ~ Liz Carlyle

ISBN:  978-1-4165-2715-2

Having so thoroughly enjoyed the first in the Never Trilogy 'Never Lie to a Lady' I started this next book in high expectation of yet another good read.  I was definitely not disappointed.

Well written characterisations, and fabulous mystery flowing throughout the story of Gabriel Ventnor (Gareth Lloyd) to the Dukedom of Warneham and the beautiful Dowager Duchess of Warneham.

I just adore the lovely, humorous and multi-layered Mr George Kemble.  Under estimate him at your peril! .... I can't wait to get him again.

I will repair to the Lending Library tomorrow and request a copy of the next in the "Never Trilogy" ...... Never Romance a Rake".

Happily a 4 Star **** read for this one (a minus 2 for the cover though!)

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay



At

#28 - Never Lie to a Lady ~ Liz Carlyle

ISBN:  978-1-4165-2714-1

Don't let this particular cover deceive you.  It looks like a 1970's "Dynasty" type affair, but in actual fact proved to be a truly masterful and mysterious piece of work by a new author to me, Liz Carlyle.

Where can just one stolen and illicit kiss in the moonlight lead?

Sybarite Stefan Nottingham, Lord Nash meets a beautiful lady (Xanthia Neville) on the terrace at the ball of Lord & Lady Sharpe.  That stolen kiss leads on to not only a story of smuggling, intrigue and spies, but more importantly a building obsession between the two of them.

There were so many delightful characters woven through this tale, with lovely pieces of well written humour, that I fairly ripped through the pages.

A big 4.5 Star **** for me, and giddy enthusiasm to move on to the sequel 'Never Lie to a Duke' and see how some of the supporting characters go forward.

Happy reading.

Kay