Not much time to read at the moment

plus the Audrey Howard books that I've just finished take up quite a bit of time .... they are long .... still a Loretta Chase double to look forward to next I believe, and a whole stack of others waiting in the wings .... a nice Winter's day snuggled up to read them all would be good!!

#143 ~ All The Dear Faces

All The Dear Faces by Audrey Howard

My rating: 3 of 5 stars















The 3 Star sequel to Ambitions. What was a bit disappointing about this one is that it missed a generation .... and we were left wondering about the early life of Sean (James) Osbourne and his marriage to the cold Serena.

However, the story of Lacy's grandchildren - Elizabeth who marries Sir Harry Woodall and James who marries Irish lovely Mara O'Shaunassey ....... plus thrown also into the mix is the passion between Elizabeth of Mara's brother. The disappointing aspect of this tale is the fact that it simply just ended in a most unsatisfactory way .... it's as if the author simply gives up, or is told to cut some of the story off .... maybe she intends to write a sequel ... who knows?

Buy at Amazon HERE.

Happy Reading

Hugs

Kay

#142 ~ Ambitions

Ambitions by Audrey Howard

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
















Review taken from my Blog Post in July 2011, after I borrowed the book from the local library:

A 3.5 Star read .... the story of two very different woman who built a life and business together and who both fell in love with the same man ... obviously one one was lucky enough to win his love .... or was she?

Wealthy and upper crust Lacy Hemmingway, pampered daughter of Charles Hemmingway the shipping magnet witness the terrible death of one of her Father's Irish workers and then goes on to be-friend that man's daughter, Rosie O'Malley.

Together they go on to challenge the accepted way of doing things and build a business together, but with both woman in love with the same man, James Osbourne ...... how will it end?

Buy at Amazon HERE.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#141 ~ Reflections From The Past

Reflections from the Past by Audrey Howard



My rating: 4 of 5 stars












Abby Murphy and Roddy Baxter had always known they were in love, but this love was tested, ultimately to be torn apart over the coming years.

Returning from an illicit skating adventure an accident on that day, was to catalyst to the splintering of their young dreams.

The death of Richard Goodwin, forces his tyrannical father to recognise his son's illegitimate daughter, and Abby is forced from her poverty-stricken family and forbidden to see her childhood sweetheart, and trained to be a lady.

Bradley Goodwin is determined to see his bloodline continue, and having got rid of Roddy Baxter arranges for her to wed her Cousin, Noah Goodwin without her really understanding what is going on.

She finds herself trapped in a marriage, merely a possession, but she is determined that she bearing a steadfast passion for her first love.

Is there any escape? Will she ever be with her love, or come to realise that she has to make the best of her life as it has turned out, and make a happy and contented marriage?

Obviously.... you know what I will say .... you will need to read it to find out the answers for yourself - a 4 Star read though, and I am sure you will like it too. As usual from this author, well written with more than its fair share of human misery and torment - just how I like them.

Buy it from Amazon HERE.

Happy reading.

Kay

#140 ~ A Secret Affair

A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh

My rating: 5 of 5 stars














This proved to be a 5 Star read, and has now cleared up the questions that I had about Constantine Huxtable very nicely.

Through a twist of fate, and even though his parents were married, Constantine was not considered legitimate and the Earldom went to his handicapped brother Jonathan, who sadly died at the age of 16 - the Earldom then passed to a distant Cousin, Stephen and a feud began with his other Cousin the Duke of Moreland.

Meanwhile, the stunningly beautiful 19 year old Hannah Reid married the Duke of Dunbarton, who was elderly and lived a lot longer than anyone could predict. Throughout her marriage there were rumours of her persistent and flagrant affairs.

After a year of mourning, she arrives back in London for the Season at the age of thirty determined to live up to her reputation, and take a lover, but not just any old lover, the darkly handsome, delicious and dangerous Constantine.

Surely a Season's worth of fun with Constantine will do her good, and give her a chance the following Season to find the one thing the old Duke promised her she would eventually find .... the love of her life.

Secrets uncovered, and a love that neither of them were expecting makes this a highly readable tale.

Buy it at Amazon HERE.

Happy reading.

Kay

#139 ~ Scandal in Spring

Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars














Reading this book, made me want to go back and re-read the other 3 .... a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying read - 4.5 Star.

The last of the Wallflowers, Daisy Bowman, has been unable to garner a marriage proposal, and is told in no uncertain terms by her Father Thomas that is she can't snare one in short order, she will have to marry his choice - his apprentice, Matthew Swift.

Daisy is horrified ...... Matthew Swift is a cold, ruthless and aloof man whom she heartily dislikes.

On a visit to her Sister's country estate she re-meets Matthew and finds that he has an unexpected charm, and finds here self falling for him .... which turns into a blazing inferno of sensuality. Just when it seems that she will have a happy future after all a scandalous secret is uncovered that threatens the future that promises.

Buy it at Amazon HERE.

Kay

#138 ~ Between Friends

Between Friends by Audrey Howard





My rating: 3 of 5 stars











Well worth a read and a 3 Star rating from me. Three friends - Martin Hunter, Tom Fraser and Megan Hughes prospects were vastly improved when they were taken from an orphanage at about 11 to work for the Cook, Mrs Whitley, of one of the emigrant Hotels in Liverpool owned by the Hemmingway Shipping line.

They blossomed, each to find their way eventually, but with the coming of the First World War their bright futures were brought to an abrupt end and threatened to separate them.

Over the years Meg had become more beautiful and alluring and both met fell in love with her. Having grown up with them, she loved them too, but in two very different ways.....she is also to bear the child on one of them. What will her choices be, and the decisions made and how will that effect them all?

Actually, now that I've read quite a few of these books I've noticed that the quite frequently the names of people like the Hemmingways, etc crop up across the them, but in a subtle round about way.

Buy at Amazon HERE.

Happy reading.

Kay

#137 ~ Lady of Quality

Lady Of Quality by Georgette Heyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars














Old review for this book that I've had as a paperback for ages.

I've had this book of my book shelf since I was really very wet behind the ears, and it comes out every now and again for an airing - always delightful and easy to read - a 3.5 star read (or a 4 on Amazon or Good Reads).

In case you don't know vastly independent and spirited spinster, Miss Annis Wychwood (in her late 20's and almost considered an ape-leader now) sets up her own establishment, to which she is returning after a stay with her irritating brother when she comes across a gig with 2 very young persons stranded at the road side (Miss Carleton and Mr Elmore).

They have run away, or Miss Carleton has, Mr Elmore is merely assisting her - as she doesn't wish to be pushed into a marriage with him - presumably little thought has been given that they are actually facilitating a match by doing this!

Miss Wychwood takes up the young lady, leaving Mr Elmore to follow on later. Over the coming weeks Miss Carleton's Guardian ... the vastly ill-humoured and rude rake Oliver Carleton ........ becomes involved, as well as the delicate sensibilities of Miss Wychwood's companion and her brother.

What will be the outcome?

Buy at Amazon HERE.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#136 ~ How to Marry a Marquis ** RE-READ**

I have so little time for reading at the moment, so plumped for a re-read of one of my favourites, the story of Elizabeth Hotchkiss and James Sidwell, Marquis of Riverdale.

Enjoyable the second time around.  See the original post CLICK.

It got a 3 star rating last time, if anything I enjoyed it a little bit more this time, as some of the subtle humour was missed before and a 3.5 star rating this time.

Hugs

Kay