#288 (#6 of 2013) - The Bride and The Brute ~ Laurell O'Donnell ~ NEW AUTHOR

Actually this was one that I missed from last year, hence this quick post to make sure I don't miss it off my reading record.

To be honest I don't remember too much about it, other than it was a bit long-winded and ponderous.  An indication that that is a true recollection is that fact that it was put in my "One Off Reads" section on the Kindle.  Therefore I will aware 2 stars.

Expect a few more posts like this one, as I'm pretty sure I missed quite a few last year during our move.

#287 (#5 of 2013) - In the Garden of Temptation ~ Cynthia Wicklund *NEW AUTHOR

Description:

HONOR – Adam Stanford, Earl of Ashworth, has always done the right thing.
DESIRE – Lady Catherine Bourgeault, lonely and rejected, longs to experience passion, to love just once in her life.
TREACHERY – The Baron Bourgeault, to what extremes will an obsessive, unstable man go to achieve his own dark ends? 
SEDUCTION – In the face of a love that will not be denied, Adam and Catherine risk everything to be together.
BETRAYAL – What price must Catherine and Adam pay for a forbidden love in a time when honor meant everything?

Purchased:

I purchased on Amazon - another free one - at time of publishing this post it's listed as 77p, which is an absolute bargain.

Length:

239 pages.  I think it might be self-published as it just shows as sold through Amazon.  This is Book 1 in the series there are more of them:

In the Garden of Seduction - Book 2
In the Garden of Disgrace - Book 3
In the Garden of Deceit - Book 4

The author has also written others.

* * * *

Summary:


Without hesitate 5 stars awarded to this exceptionally well written story.  

I fell in love with the main characters from the start, and empathised with their plight .... for me this demonstrates that it is well written.

Poor lady, she was just a pawn in her twisted husband's sordid life.

This book comes highly recommended.  For me it was another free Amazon purchase, but I would have been more than happy to have paid hold card cash for it, and will actively seek out more by her.

#286 (#4 of 2013) - The Lady and the Locksmith ~ Cody Young * NEW AUTHOR

Description:

She's a prison in her father's house.

He's a locksmith, and he could set her free, but if he does he'll pay the price .. and when her father finds out, so will she.

A sensual romantic adventure about a pair of young lovers, who were never meant to meet, and their struggle for love and liberty.


Purchased:


Kindle - another free on for me, but at time of publishing this it is 76p at Amazon.  Published by Golden Bay Press.

Length:

Short - 62 pages

* * * *

Summary:

Quite a short but sweet story, beautifully handled.  4 stars and highly recommended.  I would certainly read more by this author.

Kay

#285 (#3 of 2013) - Dance of Passion ~ Subu Raj *NEW AUTHOR

Description:

Do you remember the days when you were insanely in love? What about the time when you fell in love with an image of a person without even looking at them? And then, those days when the world seemed to have collapsed because of the love gone kaput? 

This work is based on the author's experience as he finds people in and around him go through various emotions of love and passion in different stages of life. Inspired by true events, this is a book of poems with passion as the main theme.

Purchased:

Kindle - another freebie, but I believe it's £.91 as at today's date.

Length:

Short - 36 pages


* * * *

Summary:

A contemporary book of prose and author's thoughts, something out of the ordinary for me.

I picked it up as a free offering, but would not have normally wasted my cash on something like this.

Having said that it is fairly well written, although there were minor spelling/grammatical errors here and there.

If prose are your thing, you might like it, but I do feel it is a little over priced for just 36 pages.

3 Stars.

Kay

#284 (#2 of 2013) - The Vampire Viscount ~ Karen Habraugh *NEW AUTHOR

Nicholas, Viscount St. Vire finds that the eternal youth and the supernatural strength of a vampire means little in the face of impending insanity and the eventual deterioration of his senses. Only the willing embrace of a virginal young woman can reverse his condition. Who better for his wife-to-be than the impoverished Leonore Farleigh, whose abusive father sells her to St. Vire to pay off gaming debts? Leonore agrees to marry him--how else is she going to save her sister and her mother from their poverty and pain? But she soon finds she's stepped into a marriage of inconvenience… and possible death.

* * *

Another freebie from Kindle (you only need to know where to look to pick hem up!).

Actually, not something I would normally read, but enjoyable nonetheless, as it wasn't too vampiric  in content.

A 4 star read, and I might actually try more by this author.

Kay

#283 (#1 of 2013) - Quintspinner: A Pirate's Quest ~ Dianne Greenlay *NEW AUTHOR

Purchased:

Kindle, I picked up as a free one.

Product Description

A secret and unauthorized trip through the chaos of a 1717 London marketplace takes a bizarre twist for 16 year old Tess. Unexpectedly witnessing the murder of a renowned Seer, Tess becomes the keeper of the old woman's legendary spinner ring and its supposed power of prophecy. Returning home, Tess bears the brunt of her father's rage when he is informed of her disobedient excursion. An ensuing altercation with her father leads Tess to the discovery of a family secret that stuns her. Even so, she never imagines that she will soon find herself forcibly betrothed to the murderer and trapped on a ship bound for the pirate-infested waters of the West Indies. With increasing dread, she realizes a growing attraction that she has for a handsome sailor puts both their lives at risk. Moreover, she quickly discovers that her ruthless fiance covets her only for her ring and its power, and will stop at nothing to obtain it for himself. The stakes for survival become unbearably high when she is thrust into the hands of a marauding band of pirates, and she must make an agonizing and life-threatening choice for herself. A tale of pirates and treasure, love and betrayal, all bound together by a dash of ancient magic, Quintspinner has been described by readers as "a wonderfully entertaining, fast and furious ride; Lord of the Rings meets Pirates of the Caribbean".

About the Author

Dianne Greenlay is the author of Quintspinner - A Pirate's Quest, a novel that has won numerous awards including Best YA, Best Historical, and was runner-up for Book of the Year, but her most notable accomplishment was to have raised a family of six children in a household with one bathroom and everyone got out alive. She lives on the Canadian prairies with Hot Stuff Hubby, where she shares her home and yard with numerous animals both wild and tame.

******

Assessment:

Yet another one picked up free from Kindle (I love that I can do that).

Immediately, it didn't strike me as something that I would like, but decided as I hadn't had to shell out hard cash on it, I might as well try and expand my horizons a mite this year.  Especially, as my reading tally was well down on my projected target last year.

However, I would say from about the first Chapter ... it always takes a little while I find with a new author .... I was interested, and by about five chapters in I couldn't put the book down.

I love the main character Tess, and was fascinated with the inter-play between her and Cassie, and her growing feels for William.

Additionally, there is the journey that Tess travels to discover the powers that lay will eventually be hers.

Strongly recommended that you give the whole series a try, I know I am going to.  A heady mix of histroical, with some romance, but a magical and mythical twist.

I awarded it 5 stars on Amazon, but they don't go higher.  On here it is getting the 5 Star + rating.

Kay

#282 (#81 of 2012) - To Love a Thief ~ Julie Anne Long

Purchased on Kindle - 368 pages.

4.5 star read.  Stand alone book by this author

Description taken from her website:

"Lily Masters has a gift for picking pockets and telling stories—skills that come in handy for surviving London's slums. She's proud of providing for herself and her lively young sister, and she's never been caught. 

Well, there's always a first time.

Gideon Cole is a brilliant barrister with an unfortunate weakness for clients who can't pay. His latest charitable misstep: buying the freedom of a daring, beautiful thief. To repay the debt, Lily agrees to his proposition: pose as the object of his desire and help him snare a wealthy bride. All he has to do is transform the impudent Lily into a diamond of the first water.

But the education of Lily could cost Gideon his carefully planned future. While she plays cards with his invalid uncle and her sister charms the servants, the honorable Gideon is harboring less than honorable thoughts. For sweet, stubborn and sensual Lily has a way of slipping past a gentleman's defenses— especially when she's stealing his heart!"

#281 (#80 of 2012) - How the Marquess was Won (Pennyroyal Green Series) ~ Julie Anne Young

Pennyroyal Green Series - Book 6

4 star rating.

Purchased on Kindle - 389 pages.

Description taken from Julie Anne Long's site:

The Scandal Sheets call him .....

"Ruthless, cold, precise, Julian Spenser, Marquess Dryden, tolerates only the finest—in clothes, in horseflesh, in mistresses. And now he’s found the perfect bride, the one whose dowry will restore his family’s shattered legacy and bring him peace at last: the exquisite heiress Lisbeth Redmond"

She is a girl that is not afraid to play with fire ...

"But one unforgettable encounter with Lisbeth’s paid companion, Phoebe Vale, and the Marquess is undone: this quiet girl with the wicked smile and a wit to match is the first person to see through the icy façade to the fiery man beneath. But their irresistible attraction is a torment as sweet as it is dangerous: for surrendering to their desire could mean losing everything else they ever wanted."

#280 (#79 of 2012) - What I Did for a Duke (Pennyroyal Green Series) ~ Julie Anne Long

Book 5 - Pennyroyal Green Series.

Purchased on Kindle - 384 pages

4 star rating.

Description taken from Julie Anne Long's site:

"For years, he’s been an object of fear, fascination…and fantasy. But of all the wicked rumors that forever dog the formidable Alexander Moncrieffe, Duke of Falconbridge, the ton knows one thing for certain: only fools dare cross him. And when Ian Eversea does just that, Moncrieffe knows the perfect revenge: he’ll seduce Ian’s innocent sister, Genevieve—the only member of the powerful and wealthy Eversea family as yet untouched by scandal. First he’ll capture her heart…and then he’ll break it.

But everything about Genevieve is unexpected: the passion simmering beneath her cool control, the sharp wit tempered by a gentleness that coaxes out his deepest secrets… And though Genevieve has heard the whispers about the duke’s dark past, and knows she trifles with him at her peril, one incendiary kiss tempts her deeper into a world of extraordinary sensuality. Until Genevieve is faced with a fateful choice…is there anything she won't do for a duke? "

#279 (#78 of 2012) - I Kissed an Earl (Pennyroyal Green Series) ~ Julie Anne Long

Pennyroyal Green Series - Book 4

Purchased on Kindle - 382 pages.

4 star rating

Description taken from Julie Anne Long's site:

Her Story ...
"Violet Redmond’s family and fortune might be formidable and her beauty and wit matchless—but her infamous flare for mischief keeps all but the most lionhearted suitors at bay. Only Violet knows what will assuage her restlessness: a man who doesn’t bore her to tears, and a clue to the fate of her missing brother. She never dreamed she’d find both with a man whose own pedigree is far from impeccable."

His Story ...
"Savage, is what the women of the ton whisper about the newly styled Earl of Ardmay—albeit with shivers of pleasure. Born an English bastard, raised on the high seas, he’s on a mission to capture a notorious pirate. But while Violet’s belief in her brother’s innocence maddens him, her courage awes him…and her sensuality finally undoes him. Now the man who once lost everything and the girl who has everything to lose are bound by a passion that could either end in betrayal…or become everything they ever dreamed."

#278 (#77 of 2012) - Since the Surrender (Pennyroyal Green Series) ~ Julie Anne Long

Purchased on Kindle - 384 pages.

Pennyroyal Green Series - Book 3

4 star read

Description taken from Julie Anne Long's Site:

His story ....
"Fearless. Loyal. Brilliant. Ruthless. Bold words are always used to describe English war hero Captain Chase Eversea. But another word unfortunately plays a role in every Eversea’s destiny: trouble. And trouble for Chase arrives in the form of a mysterious message summoning him to a London rendezvous...where he encounters the memory of his wickedest indiscretion in the flesh: Rosalind March—the only woman he could never forget.

Her story ...
Five years ago, the reckless, charming beauty once craved the formidable Captain’s attention. But now Rosalind is a coolly self-possessed woman, and desire is the last thing on her mind: her sister has mysteriously disappeared and she needs Chase’s help to find her. But as their search through London’s darkest corners re-ignites long-smoldering passion and memories of old battles, Chase and Rosalind are once again challenged to surrender: to the depths of a wicked desire, and to the possibility of love.

#277 (#76 of 2012) - Like No Other Lover (Pennyroyal Green Series) ~ Julie Anne Long

Purchased on Kindle - 384 pages.

Pennyroyal Green Series - Book 2

Description taken from Julie Anne Long's site:

"It's the last chance for Cynthia Brightly, the ton's most bewitching belle. Driven out of London by a secret scandal, she must find a grand husband at the Redmonds' house party before word of her downfall spreads all over England. Unfortunately, someone at Pennyroyal Green is already privy to the whispers of broken engagements and dueling lovers: Miles Redmond, renowned explorer and—thanks to his brother's disappearance—heir to the family's enormous fortune. Miles set his sights on Cynthia once, at a time when the ambitious beauty thought herself too good for a second son. But now he's the heir apparent, relishing in his control. He strikes a bargain with her: he'll keep Cynthia's steamy secrets and help her find a husband among the guests—in exchange for a single kiss. What could be the harm in a simple kiss? Cynthia is about to discover that it's enough to unleash fierce passion-and that Miles Redmond is most certainly like no other lover in the world." 4 star rating for this second book in the series.

#276 (#75 of 2012) - The Perils of Pleasure (Pennyroyal Series) ~ Julie Ann Long *NEW AUTHOR

Purchased on Kindle - 383 pages

Book 1 - Pennyroyal Series

Description taken from Jule Anne Long's website:

"Scandal has rocked the city of London. Colin Eversea, a handsome, reckless, unapologetic rogue is sentenced to hang for murder and inconveniently for Colin, the only witness to the crime has disappeared. Then again, throughout history, Everseas have always managed to cheat fate in style: Colin is snatched from the gallows by a beautiful, clever mercenary.

Cool-headed, daring Madeleine Greenway is immune to Colin’s vaunted charm. Her mission is not to rescue Colin but to kidnap him, and to be paid handsomely for it. But when it becomes clear that whoever wants Colin alive wants Madeline dead, the two become uneasy allies in a deadly race for truth. Together they’ll face great danger—and a passion neither can resist."

4 star rating and looking forward to the rest in the series.

#275 (#74 of 2012) - Wed Him Before You Bed Him (The School for Heiresses) ~ Sabrina Jeffries

Purchased on my Mum's Kindle - except that I have just look on Amazon and can only find paperbacks ... so colour me confused.

I think that it was a 3 star rating, but can't be certain as it was a long time ago I read it, so will say 3 star and not quibble!!!

That's the bullk of my inputting

I'm sure we are all really glad about that, it has taken a large section of last night and most of today to do it.

I just need to double check going back over both the Kindles' to see what I have missed off.

I also decided that as a lot of the recent Kindle stuff was free, I should return the favour and make sure I wrote reviews on them, albeit short ones in most cases.

#274 (#73 of 2012) - Dating a Cougar

Purchased on Kindle - 250 pages.

Contemporary Erotica - so a long way of my usual trodden path.

3 star read,

#273 (#72 of 2012) - One Night with a Prince (Royal Brotherhood Series) ~ Sabrina Jeffries

Royal Brotherhood Series - Book 3

Purchased on Kindle - 388 pages.

4 star rating.

#272 (#71 of 2012) - The Dangerous Lord (Lost Lord Trilogy) ~ Sabrina Jeffries

Purchased on Kindle - 384 pages.

Lord Trilogy - Book 3

4 star rating.

#271 (#70 of 2012) - Settling the Account (Promises to Keep Series) ~ Shayne Parkinson

Book 3 - Promises to Keep Series

Purchased on Kindle - 499 pages.

Again, not a stand alone book, it follows on from Sentence of Marriage and Mud and Gold.

Amy has to watch the situation between Charlie and her sons deteriorate ... will her sentence of marriage never end?  She is such a sweet person, you can only hope that things will get better.  I have to say that I really thought Miss Millish was quite another kind of lady(!!!), and her characterisation took me quite by surprise - which just goes to show how good the writing is.  What also surprised me was that at the end I didn't hate Charlie quite as much (difficult to say more without ruining the plot for somebody).

This scored 5+ stars, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this Family Saga called A Second Chance.

#270 (#69) - Tainted by Temptation ~ Katy Madison *NEW AUTHOR

Published on Kindle - 384 pages.  I picked it up as a free read.

Bit of rough start with not the most fluid of beginnings, but after a little while it started to be a pleasant read with a 4 star rating.  I would go so far as to say, I wouldn't have been disappointed if I had actually purchased it.