#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.

#269 (#68 of 2012) Mud & Gold (Promises to Keep) ~ Shayne Parkinson

Promises to Keep Series - Book 2

Purchased on Kindle - 475 pages - I actually paid for this after reading the Sentence of Marriage (Book 1) that I picked up as a free read.

This would not be a stand alone book, you will need to read Book 1 first, as it picks up immediately after the end of the last one.

It is surprisingly well written, and I have fallen even more in love with the characters.

A 5 star read ... get it, read it and I'm sure you will love it as much as I did.  Not to spoil any of the plot, the "Gold" reference in the title wasn't what I was expecting ... this book is real Cream off the top of the milk writing, and left me eager to read the rest of the series.

#268 (#67 of 2012) - Intentions of the Earl (Scandalous Sisters Series) ~ Rose Gordon *NEW AUTHOR

Published on Kindle - 271 pages.

Scandalous Sisters Series - Book 1

3 star rating, but as I picked up as a free offering I'm not complaining, and yes I do get a good few free ones, but then I also spend a lot of money with them.

#267 (#66 of 2012) - An Unexpected Gift ~ Katherine Grey *NEW AUTHOR

Published on Kindle - 212 pages - I picked it up as a free offering.

However, I would pay good money for more by this author.

4 star rating.

#266 (#65) - Sentence of Marriage ~ Shayne Parkinson *NEW AUTHOR

Promises to Keep - Book 1

Published on Kindle - 362 pages.  I picked it up as a free offering.

This could be read as a stand-along book, but really you will then want to go on and pay hard cash for the others in the series.

I gave it a 4 star rating, and couldn't wait to go on and purchase the other books in the series.  More a family saga than romance, but there is romance along with lots of trials and tribulations.  Full of light and shade and really well written with characters that you really end up caring about.

Highly recommended, and I will be seeking out more by this author, even though it was out of my usual comfort zone of historical romance being set in New Zealand.

#265 (#64 of 2012) - A Bride for Tom ~ Ruth Ann Nordin

Published on Kindle - 102 pages, so a short read.

3 star rating.

#264 (#63) - Wallflower (Old Maids' Club) ~ Catherine Gayle * NEW AUTHOR

Purchased on Kindle - 290 pages.  I picked it up as a free offering.

Old Maids' Club - book 1

4 star read

#263 (#62 of 2012) - Lord Fool to the Rescue (Novella) ~ LL Muir *NEW AUTHOR

Published on Kindle - 104 pages - Novella

I picked it up as a free offering and it deserved a 3 star rating.  Nothing negative to say about it really.  It was a nice little read and I would try others by this author.

#262 (#61 of 2012) - To Love a Scoundrel (Law & Disorder Series) ~ Sharon Ihle *NEW AUTHOR

Purchased on Kindle  - 311 pages - of absolute rot I should imagine - I only made it through the first two pages before I put it in the rubbish read section.  I gave it a 1 star rating on twitter, but thinking about it don't even think it rated that highly - minus rating all the way.  What galls me is that I actually got the book named muddled up with something else and gave that a poor rating, before I realised what I'd done.

Usually I don't condemn a book just off the bat like that, and try to give them at least a chapter of two before making up my mind ... impossible to do with this.

My main objection was that it was supposed to be historical with the start of Chapter 1 marked as "Spring 1876" then it goes on "Her favourite college professor once said ...." really that did it ......... 1896, a female and attended a college and apparently a private investigator .... I know it's based in America, but believable love if you are going to write in a time period, even given a certain amount of poetic/literary licence.  I am truly surprised that this kind of rubbish (this is book 4 for goodness sake).  The author is a best-seller?  .... there is no accounting for taste apparently.

Fortunately I had picked up my Kindle copy free - I would be so angry if I'd wasted money on it and decided I would award a very generous -1 star (minus) rating and place it on the rubbish read list I would be pleased to find out others views on this.

#262 (#60 of 2012) - Wild One (De Monteforte Brothers) ~ Danelle Harmon *NEW AUTHOR

Purchased on Kindle - 373 pages

Part of the De Monteforte Brothers Series - Book 1

Description taken from Danelle Harmon's website:

"Lord Gareth de Montforte is known as an irresponsible rake with a heart of gold. When he thwarts a stagecoach robbery, he is stunned to discover that the beautiful young woman he has heroically rescued, Juliet Paige, is his deceased brother's fiancée, accompanied by her infant daughter. Despite his family's refusal to acknowledge Juliet, Gareth is determined to do right by the courageous woman who crossed an ocean to give her baby the name she rightfully deserves.

As a practical American woman, Juliet is wary of marrying this black sheep aristocrat, yet she is hopelessly charmed by the dashing devil. Never has she met anyone who embraces life so thoroughly, who makes her laugh, who loves her so well. And, even when it seems the odds are against them, Juliet has absolute faith that Gareth will go beyond the call of duty to give her and her daughter a home -- and a love that will last a lifetime."

5 star rating

#260 (#59 of 2012) - Runaway Heart ~ Claudy Conn *NEW AUTHOR

Purchased on Kindle - 214 pages long

3 stars

#259 (#58 of 2012) - The Misbehaving Marquess (Naughty in Nottinghamshire) ~ Leigh LaValle *NEW AUTHOR

Purchased on Kindle.

Not sure if "Naughty in Nottinghamshire" was an additional bit of title, or is in fact a series.

Nice to get my teeth into a new author, and this didn't disappoint with 4 stars.

#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

#257 (#56 of 2012) - Someone to Watch Over Me (Bow Street Runners Series) ~ Lisa Kleypas

Purchased on Kindle.

Bow Street Runners' Series - Book 1

4 stars

#256 (#55 of 2012) - Only with Your Love (Vallerands Series) ~ Lisa Kleypas

Purchased on Kindle.

Vallerands' Series - Book 2

3 stars

#255 (#54 of 2012) - When Strangers Marry (Vallerands Series) ~ Lisa Kleypas

Purchased on Kindle

Vallerands Series - Book 1

3 stars

Actually, I found this a ponderous read for a Lisa Kleypas offering.

#254 (#53 of 2012) - Midnight Angel (Stokehursts Series) ~ Lisa Kleypas

Purchased on Kindle

Stokehursts' Series - Book 1

4 stars

#253 (#52 of 2012) - Stranger in my Arms ~ Lisa Kleypas

Purchased on Kindle

4 stars

#252 (#51) - Dreaming of You (Gamblers Series) ~ Lisa Kleypas

Purchased on Kindle

Gamblers' Series - Book 2

4 stars

#251 (#50) Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake ~ Sarah MacLean

Purchased on Kindle

Love By Numbers Series

5 stars

#250 (#49 of 2012) - Then Came You (Gamblers Series) ~ Lisa Kleypas

Purchased on Kindle

Gamblers' Series - Book 1

4 star

#249 (#48 of 2012) - My Irresistible Early (Inferno Club) ~ Gaelen Foley

Purchased on Kindle.

Inferno Club - Book 3

5 star

#248 (#48 of 2012) - A Rogue by Any Other Name (The Rules of Scoundrels) ~ Sara MacLean * NEW AUTHOR

Purchased on Kindle

5 star read.

#247 (#46 of 2012) - To Pleasure a Prince (Royal Brotherhood Series ) ~ Sabrina Jeffries

Purchased on Kindle.

Royal Brotherhood Series - Book 2.

4 star read.

#246 (#45 of 2012) - In the Prince's Bed (Royal Brotherhood Series) ~ Sabrina Jeffries

Purchased on Kindle.

Royal Brotherhood Series - Book 1

3 star

#245 (#44) - The Forbidden Lord (Lost Lord Trilogy) ~ Sabrina Jeffries

Purchased on Kindle.

Lost Lord Trilogy Book 2.

4 star rating.

#244 (#43 of 2012) - The Pirate Lord (Lost Lord Trilogy) ~ Sabrina Jeffries

Purchased on Kindle.

Book 1 of Lost Lord Trilogy.

4 star rating.

#243 (#42 of 2012) - As an Earl Desires ~ Lorraine Heath

Purchased on Kindle.

3 star read.

#242 (#41 of 2012) - She Tempts the Duke ~ Lorraine Heath

Purchased on Kindle.

4 star read.

#241 (#40 of 2012) - Simon's Lady ~ Julie Tetel Anderson

A 5 star read, although from memory it was based around 1500 or so, so much earlier time period for me.

Purchased on Kindle.

Just gone back over Twitter

and have a total so far of 70 - but I know that doesn't take account of some I know I missed off my Kindle, and some that I forgot to Tweet about finishing (I have trouble with my Kindle connecting to the wifi sometimes).  That also doesn't take account of the actual book I read and Mum's Kindle - which is probably quite a few).

Not the 158 total for the year I was looking forward to but getting better.

Batten down the hatches for lots of small posts updating my list - OCD kicks in and I need to see them in my label list to I can keep track.

Kay

Gulp .... it's a long time since I last posted

It's not that I haven't been reading, far from it, I never seem to put my Kindle (and possibly 1 book) down since we moved in early July ... but I have not had the time to come on here and post.

Obviously, if you follow my Twitter feed you will have noted the rating tweets, and also the new stuff that I have purchased as well.

With the end of the year looming my tally for this year looks woeful, but it really isn't  - what I need to do is hop back over my posts and see what I have not put on here, oh and also borrow my Mother's Kindle (as it doesn't feed to my Twitter) and try and work out what my actual total is for this year end.

It might not be the target I set myself, but I really don't think it will be far off ... we shall see!!!

At the moment I'm working my way through the Promises to Keep series by Shayne Parkinson.  A new departure for me, as it's not the kind of thing I go for, insomuch as it is set around late 1800's/early 1900's in New Zealand and is about just an ordinary farming family .... their loves, lives, trails and tribulations .... I am finding it hard to put down I must admit.

Expect a few posts just so I can keep track of my total before the end of the year.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay