#203 (#1 of 2012) - The True Darcy Spirit ~ Elizabeth Aston *NEW AUTHOR

ISBN or Kindle:

978-0-00-724149-1

Publisher:  Harper

Main Characters:

Miss Cassandra Darcy and Horatio Darcy

Brief Outline of plot:

Cassandar Darcy finds herself alone and penniless in London after falling for a gentleman.  It seems that he had tricked her into eloping to get his hands on her fortune, however having found that was the case she refuses to marry him and decides to take her chances and earn her own living as a painter.

Thanks to a chance meeting with her cousin (daughter of the Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett) brings her not only a friendship by support for her undoubted talent.

Horatio is another Darcy connection, and he has been charged by her step-father into either seeing that she marries the rake she ran away with or making sure she lives in seclusion.

Rating and conclusion:

I would normally say that it's a mistake to try and emulate the amazing Jane Austen, however this author does quite a good job.  Actually, she doesn't try to emulate, but move the story on a few generations.  I liked it .... my Mother didn't.  So this well written tale scores a 4, and I will be looking around for others she has writeen, which I believe are also based on the Dary legacy.

Hugs

Kay

#202 (#138) - An Inconvenient Marriage - Ruth Ann Nordin *NEW AUTHOR

ISBN or e-book:

Not known, I bought as Kindle e-book from Amazon

Publisher:

Not known

Main Characters:

Sue Lewis and Jake Mitchell

Brief outline of Plot:

Need to add details

Rating and conclusion:

Need to add - just bear with me I am behind, as I found quite a few on the Kindle that I had not added to the list.

It was bizarre to say the best.  I found it not particularly well written .... but to the point where it was so bad it was actually amusing.  Which kept me turning the pages to see how bad it could actually get before I called time.  I reached the end therefore a 2 star rating. I would try another one of her books to see if this was a one-off!

Hugs

Kay

#181 (#117) - Passions of a Wicked Earl ~ Lorraine Heath

Book 1 in London's Greatest Lovers Series

Claire had been a chaste innocent when she was married off at a very young age to Morgan Lyons, 8th Earl of Westcliffe.  Although she had known him forever, he was a distant figure with a notorious reputation with women.

Terrified on her wedding night she had sought refuge in the arms of another childhood friend, who just happened to be Morgan's brother, and they were caught in bed together.

Morgan dragged Claire off down to the country estate and left her to rot.

However, many years later Claire is determined to see that her younger sister is given the chance for a Season to find a husband other than the one picked out for her by their father ... so she takes hold of her courage and takes up residence under the husband's roof.

This unexpected event takes Morgan by surprise, and he's amazed to see how Claire has bloomed since he banished her.

Will she manage to bring her notorious rake of a husband under control, find a man for her sister and move on?

A 5 star read.

#171 (#107) - The Charmer ~ Madeline Hunter

Book 4 - The Seducer Series

Adam Burchard and Sophia Rughley.

5 Star read

#135 (71) - The Mallow Years ~ Audrey Howard

As you would expect well written, if a bit on the long side (can I stress it was enjoyable tough).  A 4 **** Star read.

Kit Chapman, daugher of mill owner, inherits her father's mills by proving that for a girl she was just as tough and good at making money as her is.

In the other Joss Greenwood poor, hard-working and dedicated workers' rights activist.

Surely it would be impossible for these two to get together let alone work out their differences and find love?

#125 (#61) - Whispers on the Water - Audrey Howard

ISBN: 978-0-340-76933-1

A much more satisfying read after the last book - I enjoyed it a great deal - always a good book when I cry!!  A 4 **** Star read and actually not too much misery in this one .... not that Audrey Howard doesn't write misery and heart ache extremely well!!

Grace Tooley meets her one and only true love when she is about fourteen at a flying display .... he is rich,  handsome and charming and the friend of her eldest brother, Arthur.

Whilst Rupert goes off to join the Army, but Grace finds it difficult to forget him.  Grace is then beset by the tragic death of Arthur on the Titanic, and all but mental collapse of her parents.  Rupert comes back into her life briefly as she tries to keep the family and business together.

Just as she seems to be getting it all back together again, she witnesses Rupert buying an engagement ring, and she has to comes to terms with losing her love forever.

The meet again during the Great War, when they have been changed into very different people by the death of 2 more of her brothers and Rupert's horrific injury and his wife's rejection.  However, Rupert can't accept that Grace loves him and she eventually marries another Officer and finds out that she is pregnant.  Who is the baby of the father, and will it be a happy ending?

Happy reading.

Kay

#107 (#43) - Her Only Desire ~ Gaelen Foley

ISBN: 0-7499-3794-7

This one was really the first the the Knight Cousins' spin-offs, about Georgiana Knight (Sister to Gabriel & Derek).

Raised all her life in India, Georgiana is very often left alone, but has made a life and friends independently, and therefore sees no wrong in inviting the cool and reserved Ian Prescott, Marquess of Griffith to stay when he arrives on a British diplomatic mission.

On his very first encounter with her he ends up effecting a rescue to save her life, and puts her under house arrest whilst he goes off on his mission to Japur .... she has other ideas and follows ... which leads her into uncovering the truth but causing a diplomatic nightmare of Ian, and heavy fighting by her brothers to protect her (in which Gabriel receives his injuries).

She flees alone on a Knight ship to England, where she is determined to conquer the ton, and fights Ian's protections for all she is worth.  Infuriated, but captivated nonetheless, will this lonely Marquess fall for her, and reveal his own secrets?

On the whole a 4 **** Star read.

Kay

#105 (#41) - The Long Way Home ~ Audrey Howard

ISBN: 978-0-340-89541-2

With her beloved a ill, and her Pa struggling to cope, Amy Pearson at the age of 10 is taken away by her Aunt Zillah, who has it seems effectively 'bought' her.

Zillah is a zealous methodist has every attention of turning her 'adoped' daughter into a mould of herself, and her every move is closely controlled and restricted.

If it wasn't for her Auntis husband, Caleb and the servants, especially young Joe, she would be have not know even the smallest portion of love.

Over the years the closeness between Amy and Joe grows to something closer to love, but Zillah pulls off a cruel stunt that leaves Amy married off to another Methodist a great deal older than herself in order to save Joe.

On her wedding night she's so badly raped and abused that she runs away, and then has to spent all of her time evading Zillah, who is determined to see her returned to her husband>

I can hear you thinking .... "but what of Joe" .... well you'll just have to read the book to find out.

Again, another well-written and compulsive read with a 4.5 ***** Star rating.

#86 (#22) - His Wicked Kiss ~ Gaelen Foley

ISBN: 0-7499-3683-5

This is the last one in the Knight Family series - the missing brother - Captain Black (Lord) Jack Knight.

The first of the Hawkscliffe Harlot's illegitimate children, his father was an Irish Boxing Champion.

Sick to the back teeth with the shame heaped on him by the ton because of his birth, he ends up owning an international shipping and trade company Knight Enterprises, and spends his life pretty much on the ocean wave ...... until one trip down the Orenoco River he comes across the beautiful Eden Farraday in a tree above him collecting orchids.

She's been taken to the jungle by her Botanist father and longs for London Society.  A request to Jack to take her away is turned down, so she stows away on his ship .... soon to be caught by him and made to pay!

I have to say I loved this story, and Jack Knight game very close to Anthony Blake (who is one of my all time favourite heroes).

A 5 star read ****.  What a shame I've now finished the Knight family series.

Happy reading.

Kay

#82 (#18) - The Hidden Shore ~ Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

ISBN: 978-0-7515-1934-1

Book 19 in the Morland Dynasty


Continuing the story on from "The Abyss" this time concentrating on Charlotte Meldon, who is relation to Benedict Morland from Book 18.  The story also covers moves the story on for Benedit after he inherits Morland Place from his horrible brother Nicky.

With no family, and kept apart from the world when Charlotte Meldon's father dies, she fears that she will be left destitute and alone.  However, a letter eventually arrives from her father's man of business, where it turns out that this is far from the case....indeed, she inherits a title in her own right and vast wealth.

Eventually she learns to cope with the life-altering facts, of finding out that her mother did not die (as she'd be told since she was a child), and that she has a quite large family.  Being launched on Society she becomes engaged to a Duke's Heir, Oliver Fleetwood, but is shocked to find out at almost the last minute that it is not the love match she thought it.  The only thing she can do is jilt him and get on with her life.

Disillusioned she retreats to her little cottage on the Marsh and gathers her spirits.  Eventually returning to London to work amid the black slums, and will change her life (and those around her) in unexpected ways.

Yet another great book by this author.  They are quite long books, and take a bit of reading .... not in any hard to read way you understand, actually difficult to put down and compelling.  I would highly recommend you give the series a try a 4.5 ***** Star read.

Happy reading.

Kay

#80 (#16) - Seducing an Angel ~ Mary Balogh

ISBN: 978-0-7499-4296-0

I haven't got much time for saying too much about this one .... actually, not too much to say about it really .... not one of her best - it lacked passion and depth and not up to her usual standard.

Another in the Huxtable family series, this time the younger brother  Stephen, Earl of Merton and the axe-murdering widow Lady Cassandra Padget.

After the mysterious death of her husband, she is cast off without the pension and other provisions that she should have been entitled to, and given to believe that she is lucky that she has not met the hangman's noose.  Desperate therefore, and with her old governess and a unmarried mother cook/housekeeper to also care for she sets out to find a Protector, gate crashes a ball and snares Stephen on the first night of trying.

That single night alters her whole view on ever giving her self body and soul to another man in marriage, and also sets her on the path to undoing the evil self-doubt that being in an abusive relationship had built up .... alll in all a 3 *** star read.

Kay

#77 (#13) - One Night of Sin ~ Gaelen Foley

ISBN: 0-7499-0722-X

Another in the Knight Family series, this time about the  young brother Lord Jack Knight and Miss Becky Ward.

Lord Alec is the Colonel in Chief of the Lord Rakehells' and comes across the lovely Miss Becky asleep on a friend's door step.

Becky found her way onto that particular door step to shelter from the rain, after fleeing he evil Cousin, Prince Korkov and his terrible Cossack guard.

Now all they need to do is out run them, but will they find happiness?

You will have to read it to find out, but I highly recommend that you do ...... Lord Alec is a delicious piece of work, and he's met his match in the boldly spirited Miss Ward.

A 4 **** Star read.

Next is a Loretta Chase book ....... which I'm inordinately happy to get my hands on .... she's always a good read.

#75 (#11) - Lord of Fire ~ Gaelen Foley

ISBN: 0-7499-0768-1

Just finished one of the Gaelen Foley's that has been sitting waiting for me ..... it was a 4.5 ***** Star read and make no mistakes!

I haven't been that much in love with a Hero since Lord Anthony Blake (Stephanie Laurens).

Dark, dangerous and utterly gorgeous Spy Lord Lucien Knight gives the beautiful and virtuous Alice Montague a choice, stay with him and let her Nephew have his Mama, or so and disappoint the poor sick little boy.  What would you do?

Secretly utterly fascinated with him Alice stays, and falls under his spell.  She finds a tormented man with a whole cavern of secrets, but will she find love?

Read it do .... and then go and find the story of his twin, Damien Knight ..... I just read a small excerpt of that and it looks full of the same kind of promise.

#67 (#4) - The Wicked Marquess ~ Gaelen Foley

ISBN: 978-0-7499-4274-8

Book 1 of the Inferno Club

A new author for me, and I have to say I now know why my Mother was raving.... Fabulous story, even more fabulous and totally to fall in love with bunch of Heros' all Members of the infamous and scandalous Inferno Club, which is a cover for a Secret Order.

The first book cover the story of Max, Marquess of Rotherstone and the patron stain of newcomers into the ton, Daphne Starling.

Max has decided to restore his family's good name and scandal is surrounding her, since she has become known as a jilt.

Max is totally fascinated by her and sets out to prove the Society gossips wrong.  What will he do to win her hand though, and show her that even the most wicked marquess can reform..... you'll have to read it to find out, but I am confident that you won't fail to be completely won over by these books.

I am reaching for Book 2, The Wicked Duke as soon as I have finished this review.

A 5 ***** Stars from me.

#59 - Simply Love ~ Mary Balogh

ISBN: 0-7499-3744-0

Yet another in the 'Simply Series', this time Anne Jewell (featured in the story of Freyja Bedwyn and Lord Hallmere) and Sydnam Butler (Brother-in-law of Lauren in #52).

Unmarried mother Anne takes up employment with Miss Martin's School with the assistance of Freyja Bedwyn (Lady Hallmere) with her son David.

Whilst on a Summer holiday with Lord & Lady Hallmere and the Bedwyn clan in Wales, she meets Sydnham Butler (taciturn and badly scared Hero of the Peninsula Wars) and Land Steward to Wulfric, Duke of Bewcastle.

After first Anne runs from him on the cliffs when she views his horrendours injuries, but later they strike up a friendship, but will it turn to love?

You'll have to read it I'm afraid to find out, but I will tell you that I sobbed and sobbed my way through a lot of this book .... in the best possible way.

A 5 ***** star read.

#55 - Seduce Me at Sunrise ~ Lisa Kleypas

ISBN: 978-1-44480-005-0

The second book in the Hathaway Series, telling the story of Winifred Hathaway and Kev Merripen.

Kev (a Romany) was taken in by the Hathaway clan when he was small, after being badly beaten and left for dead.  He stayed on with the family, and formed a close bond with Win.

In 1848 she suffered a terrible attack of Scarlet Fever and was left an invalid.  Unwilling to accept her fate, she persuaded the Family to send her off to France, along with the brother Leo, to a special clinic set up Dr Julian Harrow.

Kev's love for her is so fierce that he would do anything to protect her from harm ..... unfortunately, she has other ideas .... and wants Kev at any cost, and nothing can eventual stand in the way of that love.

Their story unfolds, along with the mystery ehind the tattoo of the Pooka both Kev and Cam Rohan Winifred's brother-in-law, another Rom).

It is perhaps quite possible to write Win off from the beginning as weak and helpless, but she is far from that, in the end showing extraordinary spunk to get the truth from Julian Harrow!

I would urge you to read it, not a greatly exciting story, but highly enjoyable never the less.

A 3.5. **** Star read.

Happy reading.

Kay xoxo

My review of At Last Comes Love ~ Mary Balogh

Yay, that's another review under my belt and published over at Love~Romance~Passion.

Happy reading.

Kay

#37 - Book Review has been accepted for publication

Just got an email yesterday to let me know that my review has been accepted, and will be published on 27th November 2010 on Love~Romance~Passion.

This weekend has not been the busiest as we had a houseviewing, so no crafting of any sort for me ..... but I did get to read a good bit.  Three books and another just started a short while ago.

I'll review them separately.  Not many more days til I get my hands on a Kindle!

Happy reading

Hugs

Kay

#37 - At Last Comes Love ~ Mary Balogh

ISBN:  978-0-+7499-4291-5

I've just finished reading the second book in the Huxtable series.  Actually, I wrote a long post about it ........ so long in fact that I then decided to submit the review to Love~Passions~Romance and see if Kiera liked it enough to publish it.

So I won't say anymore about this one for now, except that Margaret (Meg) Huxtable literally runs into Duncan Pennethorn (Earl of Sherringham) at a ball ........ oh what a tangled web we weave, when at first we at first we practice to deceive......

a 4.5 read, and I will post when/if it is accepted on the site.

Happy reading.

Hugs


Kay xoxoxo

First Book Review has been published

wooo hoo, my first book review for love~romance~passion was published today on Taste of Innocence by Stephanie Laurens.  Check it out HERE.

Happy reading.

Kay