The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

April 21, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
Audiobook narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Publisher: Print – Avon, Recorded Books (Audio Publisher)
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town’s marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn’t as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry – though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon’s heart beating a bit faster.

And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever!

I can’t believe I’m the lucky duck who gets to review The Duke and I. For sure I thought, someone at some time must have already reviewed this book for LASR, but guess what? No one has! I can’t believe it! With the resounding success of the Netflix series, Bridgerton, I figured I was late to the party. I tried and tried to get the paperback through my local library but the wait was three months long. So, I checked the audiobook section and I couldn’t believe my good fortune. It was available!! And let me tell you something, if you haven’t heard the audio version of the novel, you are missing out. Rosalyn Landor did a splendid reading. Spectacular, really. So much so, that when I finally get to watch it on Netflix, I’m going to be comparing the acting to Ms. Landor’s rendition.

Here’s another personal tidbit. I do a lot of tedious data entry at my day job. I’m in an office by myself so I can listen to audiobooks to my heart’s content. My boss only walked in on me twice and both times I was laughing uproariously. Oops. But she just smiled, gave me a few more needed tasks, and off she went. Supposedly the audio version takes 12 hours to listen to. You could have fooled me. My day positively flew! I grinned, I chuckled, and I most definitely laughed out loud. This book is awesome! Yes, I realize I’m using a lot of exclamation points in this review but how else can I explain how excited I am about my reading/listening experience?

First, a reader meets Simon as a little child; an only child. My heart broke. His father was an arrogant posterior – unrelenting, unforgiving, and an all-around ogre. Thank goodness little Simon had a staunch protector in his nurse. Child psychologists all agree that trauma experienced at a young age tends to affect that person into adulthood. Simon’s character epitomizes that fact. He grew up to be sophisticated, extremely smart, is respected but thought of as very ducal. The author explains the reality. Again, my feelings were affected. Simon certainly qualifies as a tortured hero.

Now, let’s look at Daphne Bridgerton, the heroine. She’s the very opposite of the hero. She comes from a large, boisterous family and she’s only known love. She’s unusual because she speaks her mind and has a fresh, unpretentious way of looking at things. Having grown up with three older brothers, she is wise in many areas, yet innocent as she should be in the areas expected of a lady. But wow, can she throw a solid punch. I really liked the heroine’s personality.

The first half of the story is about their meeting, the courting, the scheming, and working around her two nosiest brothers, Anthony and Colin. The family dynamics are fascinating and Ms. Quinn wrote them into the novel in a seamless fashion as a natural turn of events in the everyday life of the Bridgerton clan. A reader sees ballroom dramas, raucous dinnertimes with a reference to mashed potatoes on someone’s chair, and a healthy dose of love and laughter between the siblings. It was quite delightful.

The latter half of the novel follows the ramifications of Simon’s bad experiences in his youth and how it affects the marriage that eventually takes place between he and Daphne. I felt so sad for Daphne. She goes from a family that harbors few secrets to a husband who is haunted by them. It gets very intense and I worried for Daphne at a few points. I could understand her point of view, but I understood Simon’s too. I had no idea how things were going to be resolved. Of course it is, that’s part of the very happy and satisfying happy-ever-after of which I was thrilled with. And for those that feel a book isn’t complete without an epilogue, guess what? The audio version has a SECOND epilogue! Yes! And not only is it amazing and wonderful and intriguing and at times humorous, it tied up the loose ends about those letters.

I realize that a narrator can only bring a book to life if the author who wrote it provides amazing material, and based on my experience, Ms. Quinn did an outstanding job. Well, of course she did, it’s now a Netflix sensation, right? Well, Ms. Landor’s narration combined with a great novel has completely wowed me. I’m very happy, thrilled and although late to the Bridgerton party, just as enthusiastic as the many fans out there worldwide. If anyone is like me who hasn’t read, or even listened to this book yet, what are you waiting for? There’s no time like the present. The Duke and I ( or as the TV has it, The Duke & I) is a great read no matter how you get it.

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Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost

September 23, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost
A Night Rebel novel
Publisher: Harper Audio/Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Some promises are meant to be broken…

Veritas spent most of her life as a vampire Law Guardian. Now, she’s about to break every rule by secretly hunting down the dark souls that were freed in order to save Ian. But the risks are high. For if she gets caught, she could lose her job. And catching the sinister creatures might cost Veritas her own life.

Some vows are forever…

Ian’s memories might be fragmented, but this master vampire isn’t about to be left behind by the woman who entranced him, bound herself to him, and then disappeared. So what if demons, other Law Guardians, and dangerous, otherworldly forces stand against them? Come hell or high water, Ian intends to remind Veritas of the burning passion between them, because she is the only person seared on his mind—and his soul…

This story ended way too fast, yet it was just right. It solved a problem that has been plaguing Ian for quite some time, and it showed me that Veritas is much, much more than the valiant Law Guardian from past books in the series. In fact, the secrets that Veritas holds are just as exciting and amazing as the plot itself.

I read this book via the audio version, so it took about 8 hours and 54 minutes, but for readers of paperback/print, this 384 page dynamo should take much less time than that. All I know is, I read/listened to it in one day. Yes, that is a long time to walk around with headphones, but just like the print books, I couldn’t stop. Every chapter left me with “More, more!” and “Now what?” or my favorite, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” – that said when a chapter ended with a shocking or surprising cliff hanger that totally caught me off guard. This book was AWESOME!!

Since I read this via audio, I’d like to take a moment to commend the publisher or author; I’m not sure who decides these things, but whoever it is, on their choice for narrator, Tavia Gilbert. The choice is genius. I’ve listened to a few other narrators now, enough to be able to say that Ms. Gilbert is a high classed narrator. She portrays each character with clear and distinct voices and personalities. Let me tell you, that cannot be not easy because there are so many characters in the world Ms. Frost has built, from Vlad, to Crispin, to Ian, and Mencheres as well as the hero and heroine of Wicked Bite, Ian and Veritas. Frankly, I’m stunned at the variety. The narrator’s vocal range is impressive and brings the audio version to life much better than anything I’ve read in my own head. I enjoyed the book but listening to it is like going to see a play blindfolded.

The only thing I’m not a fan of, in any fiction genre, is the playing fast and loose with the ideas of demons and souls. In this book, even though it’s totally fictionalized for the story, and I understand that, I have a different opinion that does not allow me to take the subjects lightly. With all that being said, I’m still giving this book a high rating because the writing, plot, flow and pace of the story, the dialogue, the relationship between the characters and the ability to keep surprising me, are all elements that earn those five stars. I laughed out loud, I gasped … basically this story made me care what happens to the characters. That’s the kind of writing that makes a book stand out – it affects my emotions as I read and I want to keep reading.

The love between Ian and Veritas is finally clarified and I am a happy reader. Theirs is an unconventional romance with the most unusual internal conflicts. Let me narrow that down a bit, Ian is so confident in himself, I don’t think he even experiences internal doubts at all. It’s Veritas that does and once the reason is disclosed, I believe the heroine has enough angst for the both of them.

I could go on and on because there are a lot of shenanigans going on in this novel as well as so many other reasons to encourage other readers to check this book out. Half the fun are the surprise elements woven throughout the story and I in no way want to dilute that for anyone. If you are a fan of this series and you haven’t read this yet, you’re in for a treat. If you are new, this possibly could be read as a standalone because it focuses only on Ian and Veritas’s fight to survive and how they solidify their love amidst the terrible challenges they face. Wicked Bite is well worth every minute reading. It’s an easy recommend.

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Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James

June 12, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James
The Wildes of Lindow Castle,Book 5
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (396 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A shy wallflower meets her dream man–or does she?–in the next book in New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James’ Wildes of Lindow series.

Miss Viola Astley is so painfully shy that she’s horrified by the mere idea of dancing with a stranger; her upcoming London debut feels like a nightmare.

So she’s overjoyed to meet handsome, quiet vicar with no interest in polite society — but just when she catches his attention, her reputation is compromised by a duke.

Devin Lucas Augustus Elstan, Duke of Wynter, will stop at nothing to marry Viola, including marrying a woman whom he believes to be in love with another man.

A vicar, no less.

Devin knows he’s no saint, but he’s used to conquest, and he’s determined to win Viola’s heart.

Viola has already said Yes to his proposal, but now he wants her unruly heart…and he won’t accept No for an answer.

I adore the Wildes of Lindow Castle. They are a wonderful family, very supportive, unconventional and always loving. The heroine of Say Yes to the Duke certainly needed every ounce of care, patience and support in the early parts of the novel. She had good reasons for her fear and the resultant tumultuous tummy, but at the same time the occurrence of the reason made me grin. It certainly was memorable for me too.

Viola was a delightful heroine. I enjoyed her penchant for befriending a crow, defending cows, and her other general personality traits. She has a self-esteem issue initially and her sister, Joan, was a huge help, but it’s the man she encounters that starts her on the path of getting over her fears.

Devin, the hero, is the character that does the most growing, changing and discovering. He discovers that he can actually smile, he discovers *gasp* feelings! Devin also has had a horrid childhood that shaped how he deals with anger, relationships and responsibilities but it’s his interactions with Viola and the rest of the Wilde clan that make him realize that love, banter and ‘tender feelings’ do not make him weak. That whole journey was a joy to watch because during it all he’s falling in love with the heroine. It was majorly entertaining and I relished every moment.

I really enjoyed the play. I felt it was the turning point and the culmination for so many plot threads. It was a delight to read. Like Devin said, it was the ‘fifth act’ and it was great because it included quite a few giggles. Of course, those earlier counted ‘acts’ (1-4) were fun, saucy and quite entertaining between Devin and Viola.

The novel ends with a most adorable and sweet epilogue that is like icing on a cake. I have a happy book buzz after reading it and a smile on my face. To confirm that this novel made me feel that happy, I read it again before writing this review. Truly, Say Yes to the Duke is a charming and delightful read and one I encourage romance readers not to miss.

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Nothing Compares to the Duke by Christy Carlyle

June 8, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Nothing Compares to the Duke by Christy Carlyle
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (368 Pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Bluet

His Only Regret…

Rhys Forester, the new Duke of Claremont, lives his life by four words: Enjoy All, Regret Nothing. He’s devoted to the pleasure of his wild soirees, reckless behavior, and shocking the ton with his interests in trade. The debts that come with his title don’t fit the carefree lifestyle he’s created and when he’s forced to return to his family’s estate, he’s also forced to confront his one and only regret: the beautiful girl he left behind.

May Be Falling in Love…

Arabella Prescott has been the belle of more balls than she cares to remember. After three seasons and five rejected proposals, she’s done with the marriage mart. Bella’s hopes to live a comfortable life, alone, come crashing down when her parents demand she marry. But her salvation may come in the form of the man she hates the most.

Bella has never forgiven Rhys for what he did to her, but desperate times call for fake engagements. With a few dozen rules, their scheme begins, but it’s not long before the former enemies find themselves breaking every single rule, including the most important of them all: don’t fall in love…

Arabella Prescott and Rhys Forester live on neighboring estates, and have been best friends since they were young children, even though Rhys is four years older. Although much of their youth was spent running about and playing, Bella is remarkably intelligent, and helped Rhys with his reading disorder. The years pass, and it’s now time to celebrate Bella’s eighteenth birthday. She’s nervous about having to give a speech in front of everyone, and is counting on Rhys’s face front and center to focus on. She also has been feeling her love for Rhys turn in a new direction, and hopes that he returns her affection. When Rhys isn’t part of the crowd, Bella runs off to seek him. And she does find him, unfortunately, it’s in the arms of an obliging older lady. Bella’s young heart is broken, and she is too distraught to listen to Rhys’s apology.

Rhys realizes he has ruined his beautiful friendship. Unknown to Bella, he had already begun to live the rakish lifestyle that he would become notorious for over the next five years. His life in London consists of some genuine business ventures with his two close friends, but is full of wild parties, gambling, and a string of affairs and liaisons. When Rhys’s father dies, and there are serious financial problems, Rhys knows he must go back to his country estate and try to sort out the mess, as he’s now the duke.

While Rhys has been living as a libertine, Bella made her debut, and has turned down numerous marriage proposals. She is hopeful that her parents will give up on trying to marry her off, and allow her to happily become a spinster, and to write her puzzle books, which she hopes to publish. Her world is turned upside down when she hears Rhys’s voice for the first time since that awful party five years ago.

I’m all team Bella in this story, as I hated Rhys’s actions from his awful deed five years ago to the frivolous and ridiculous life he chose to live since then. Having said that, he does have an abundance of good qualities which were buried underneath the persona he created. He also felt genuine guilt and remorse over how he hurt Bella, and accordingly lost his best friend. I admire that he had the courage to ask her forgiveness, albeit five years later. I loved watching Rhys change the more time he spent with the “new” Bella, becoming a better person, and vowing that he would never break her trust again.

Bella was easy for me to like, as who doesn’t remember and sympathize with their first experience at heartbreak? What made this sadder was the decade of solid friendship before their falling out. I commend Bella’s resolve not to marry just for the sake of being wed, and how she worked at building her own future of becoming a published author. It takes a good person to forgive someone who has hurt you that badly, and I applaud Bella’s finally being able to do so.

Nothing Compares to the Duke is well written and enjoyable to read, with plenty of emotional scenes and some steamy moments. I think it will appeal especially to those readers who enjoy drama and many hurdles to overcome. I have to confess that I was left with a kernel of doubt as to whether Rhys could truly stay faithful to Bella, or whether the siren song of his former life would lure him back. I know I’m rooting for them.

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Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

May 4, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (374 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Everything has a price . . .

Railway magnate Tom Severin is wealthy and powerful enough to satisfy any desire as soon as it arises. Anything—or anyone—is his for the asking. It should be simple to find the perfect wife—and from his first glimpse of Lady Cassandra Ravenel, he’s determined to have her. But the beautiful and quick-witted Cassandra is equally determined to marry for love—the one thing he can’t give.

Everything except her . . .

Severin is the most compelling and attractive man Cassandra has ever met, even if his heart is frozen. But she has no interest in living in the fast-paced world of a ruthless man who always plays to win.

When a newfound enemy nearly destroys Cassandra’s reputation, Severin seizes the opportunity he’s been waiting for. As always, he gets what he wants—or does he? There’s one lesson Tom Severin has yet to learn from his new bride:

Never underestimate a Ravenel.

The chase for Cassandra’s hand may be over. But the chase for her heart has only just begun . . .

At first, Tom, the hero, sounds like a stuffed and starched shirt – rigid, set in his ways and overly sure of himself. That is until he utters the most un-starched comment, “I’ll be your oyster.” In a very short amount of time, Ms. Kleypas provided me the measure of the man, so I’m well aware his statement is wholly out of character. That is also my ‘aha’ moment when I realize that the person doing the most growth, who is going to experience the most changes in circumstances and new awareness, is going to be Tom. My first thought after the first chapter? This, is going to be fun.

If you are a reader who likes to judge a book as readable based on the blurb, a word of caution – I do not agree with the ‘chase being over’, nor that about Cassandra’s heart. I saw the reason for the chase present itself in the first chapter, and even after he received her hand in matrimony, it continued but not quite as the blurb leads you to believe. I perceive it’s not the heroine’s heart but the hero’s. Tom has a dearth of feelings, but Cassandra has an overabundance which will prove to be the hero’s undoing. The results are eminently readable, enjoyable, entertaining and positively delightful. Bazzle’s character is the litmus test – the evidence that the heroine is reaching and thawing Tom’s frozen heart. The twists and turns of their unusual courtship is pure romantic entertainment and very well written.

As for the enemy, again the blurb makes it sound like there’s going to be danger, as in – there might be spies, skullduggery or serious and menacing peril. No one is out to kill anyone, thank goodness. There’s nothing dark or stressful about Chasing Cassandra for which I am grateful. The external conflict puts the heroine in jeopardy; that is true. However, the form it takes is something historical romance readers will appreciate and accept because they understand the gravity of the threat. A nail biting event does exist and it revolves around Bazzle. That scene is where I was truly worried because I’d come to care about his character. How it is resolved gives me great satisfaction, and even while I’m writing this review I am still remembering and appreciating Tom’s actions. He’s a wonderful hero.

Tom eventually seduced Cassandra. Although it was spicy and well written, it also makes me grin from ear to ear. Why? Because I think he was seduced right back, and it confused him. It messed with his will-ordered and efficient mind and I liked that effect. It made the hero approachable, likeable and worthy of the heroine. I especially enjoyed the moonlight waltz. There’s something to be said for shoes that don’t fit.

I was entertained by the contract that Tom and Cassandra came up with. I liked how the author used it to benefit her characters while at the same time giving readers a greater insight into the couple. His reference to ‘tablemats with holes’, and what he thought of fringe, made me giggle. It certainly had me liking him all the more.

Chasing Cassandra was a perfectly delightful read. I have been a bit stressed lately and I can honestly say that the world fell away once I got into the story. I was able to forget the seriousness of life and escape to love, happiness, hope, optimism and laughter. I was treated to a well-rounded happy ever after with characters I really liked. I can easily recommend this a great read.

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The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe

March 3, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (384 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Powerful casino owner.
Ruthless mastermind.
Destroyer of men.

He lives in the shadows . . .

As the owner of the city’s most exclusive casino, Clayton Madden holds the fortunes of prominent families in the palms of his hands every night. There is one particular family he burns to ruin, however, one that has escaped his grasp . . . until now.

She is society’s darling . . .

Florence Greene is no one’s fool. She knows Clayton Madden is using her to ruin her prestigious family . . . and she’s using him right back. She plans to learn all she can from the mysterious casino owner–then open a casino of her own just for women.

With revenge on his mind, Clay agrees to mentor Florence. However, she soon proves more adept–and more alluring–than Clay bargained for. When his plans are threatened, Clay must decide if he is willing to gamble his empire on love.

A gilded age romance for the ages.

I’ve read other books by Joanna Shupe and have never been let down. I wasn’t this time, either. This book plugs right along, the writing is well-done and kept me invested throughout. I’ll be reading more by this author.

Yes, there were times when I thought Florence was a bit above her station. Women had some freedoms and she tends to go higher than she should be. But that’s what made her fun. Okay, sometimes it made her petulant and a tad irritating, but she knew what she wanted and was not going to let anyone tell her no. I liked that. Then there’s Clayton. He’s just as much of a piece of work. He’s doing things that aren’t quite square, yet he’s not doing it for ill-gotten gain. It’s a tad trite that he’s the casino owner with the heart of gold, but he kind of is. The chemistry between him and Florence is off the charts. I liked each time they got together.

If you’re looking for a book with rich characters that might annoy you one minute, make you love them the next and ultimately stay with you, then this is the book you’re looking for. Recommended.

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The Duchess in His Bed by Lorraine Heath

October 10, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Duchess in His Bed by Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (320 pgs)
Heat: Hot
Rated: 4 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

For a duchess with practical desires, falling in love is an inconceivable part of her plan…

As owner of the Elysium Club which caters to women’s fantasies, Aiden Trewlove is accustomed to introducing adventurous ladies to sin and vice. But he is uncharacteristically intrigued by the mysterious beauty who visits his club one night, yearning to indulge in the forbidden—with him. Drawn to her indomitable spirit, he breaks his rule of never becoming personally involved with his clientele and is determined to fully awaken her desires.

A recent widow, Selena Sheffield, Duchess of Lushing, has never known passion, not until Aiden’s slow, sensual seduction leads her on a journey of discovery and incredible pleasure. But her reasons for visiting the notorious club are not all that they seem.

As Selena’s motives become complicated by love, she finds herself with a most unexpected choice: forge ahead with a secret plan that could secure her future—or follow her heart which could prove ruinous.

Wow. This books kicks off in the most ugly way imaginable…far from what one imagines from the jacket; yet, it sets the scene for us to understand the duchess’ motivation.

The Duchess in His Bed seems like it should be a cheery and titillating story. After all, we’re given to understand that the most risque ‘ladies’ club and physical passion are absolutely central. And, though expectations are met in that regard, the real surprise is the Duchess herself. In fact, the depth and quality of all the characters keep this story riveting.

We meet Adien, as he meets the beautiful and previously, shall we say “undervalued”, Duchess of Lashing. Selena is not what she seems and she has some pretty specific goals, as well. Aiden thinks he knows those goals. He is confident in his assessment of women and what might bring them to his services. His surety is undoing.

Lena has a very specific desire but, almost immediately she discovers a conflict. And though she was prepared to pursue her own desires single-mindedly, suddenly, she trips over something like respect. Or is it more? The developing emotions stir the plot quite thoroughly!

Ms. Heath’s historical romance brings together incredibly realistic characters in an unusual and very unpredictable situation. We hardly know what to hope for, never mind expect, as the story charges forward.

Very worth reading; fun and intriguing.

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Immortal Born by Lynsay Sands

October 3, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Immortal Born by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full length (384 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthmum

A simple promise to protect her friend’s infant son has turned Allie Chambers’ existence upside down. Caring for—and feeding—an orphaned vampire baby has been tricky enough. But as little Liam grows, so does his appetite. He needs more blood than she can personally supply. And when her attempts to steal from a blood bank go awry, Allie wakes up surrounded by doctors, cops…and the gorgeous, mesmerizing Magnus, who she can neither trust nor resist.

Magnus never expected to find his life mate breaking into a blood bank. Clearly, Allie is already entwined with his world—in deeper, more dangerous ways than she realizes. A band of vicious rogue immortals is in pursuit, and Magnus’ first task is to keep her safe. His second: to awaken her to mind-blowing pleasure, and hope she’ll accept the life, and the passion, that only he can offer.

This is a romance after my own heart. The cast of characters is delightful, the placement of their physical love is perfect and I adore the relationship between Magnus and Allie. They’re so cute together. There’s not one thing I don’t like. Okay, I don’t like the bad guys but I’m not supposed to. In fact, the bad-guy plot is shockingly twisted.

I enjoyed how the author used a circular story pattern in the beginning to show how Allie and Liam came to be together and why the heroine was so afraid and distrustful when Magnus first came on stage. Later on I discovered the tragic and sadly wasteful truth. What I mean is that the “if only” from 20/20 hindsight about Stella made Allie’s reality more intense, sad and emotionally poignant. And, it justified what Allie eventually did at the action packed climax, making it all the more satisfying because it brought closure. I didn’t expect that in the aftermath of such a serious battle, Ms. Sands could make me laugh, but she did. When Magnus and Tybo discovered how Allie’s dramatic action went down, their reaction was priceless. What Magnus then said about Allie was absolutely wonderful. It was a happy ‘aww’ moment and sealed my opinion that he’s a swoon-worthy hero.

Also included in Immortal Born is the funniest scene I have ever had the pleasure of reading in this series. It involves Allie and Magnus consummating their passion for the first time as lifemates and it does not proceed like everyone likely expected, myself included. I can cheekily say that the hero is up to the challenge.

Another comical technique I enjoy reading about comes from the main characters being new lifemates. It’s practically impossible to prevent other immortals from reading their thoughts. Sure, it can come in handy in navigating tricky plot points but it’s also a perfect medium for causing embarrassment, giggles and many a grin. Ms. Sands uses it to good effect.

My absolute favorite aspect of this story is how it was written. Yes, it’s a wonderful romance but it’s the way I like them to be and rarely found. Lifemate sex was delayed. Magnus knew the reasons were practical but that didn’t stop him from being frustrated, impatient and tempted. Oh boy was he tempted, but the hero was determined to be honorable even if it killed him. Because of his determination to do the right thing, I respected the heck out of his character. A man like Magus is perfect husband material and I’d marry him myself if I could.

I could talk about how wonderful and adorable I thought Liam’s character was, how happy the happy ever after epilogue is, or about the great dialogue and supporting secondary characters woven throughout the novel, but I won’t. I will wrap this up by saying that Immortal Born is my new favorite romance in the series and that any fan who hasn’t bought the book yet needs to so they can add it to the rest of their Argeneau family keepers. It’s a great read.

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Heiress Gone Wild by Laura Lee Guhrke

September 30, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Heiress Gone Wild: Dear Lady Truelove by Laura Lee Guhrke
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (304 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Dear Lady Truelove,

My ward is driving me crazy. I have to marry her off and get her out of my life. There’s just one problem…

When Jonathan Deverill promised a dying friend he’d be guardian to the man’s daughter, he envisioned a girl in pigtails and pinafores, a child he could leave behind in some finishing school. Problem is, his ward is actually a fully-grown, defiant beauty whose longing for romance threatens to make his guardianship a living hell.

New York heiress Marjorie McGann wants a London season and a titled husband who can help her spend the Yankee millions she’s inherited, and she thinks her new British guardian is the perfect person to help her find him. But Jonathan has no intention of letting his friend’s fortune be squandered. Under his watchful, protective eye, Marjorie finds romance hard to come by . . . until one fateful night when her own guardian’s devastating kisses makes her wonder if the greatest romance of all might be right in front of her.

This is a perfect story for romance fans that enjoy the chase, the gradual build-up of yearning and desire, of watching a hero and heroine deal with the pitfalls and frustrations of navigating society’s rules and propriety, and relish the explosion of passion when it becomes impossible to resist. Jonathan and Marjorie’s initial meeting was tame which led the hero into a complacent frame of mind. Imagine his shock when he discovers that the heroine is a woman with her own opinions, goals and dreams, and has the gumption to make things happen. Plans go awry for both of them and the challenge they face is figuring out what they really want out of life, and what they’re willing to do to make it happen. The journey is fascinating.

Marjorie’s character starts out like fresh taffy, easy to pull and stretch, is moldable yet sweet. Once she figures things out, she ends up being a woman who knows her own mind and goes after what she wants. Jonathan is a man torn between duty and desire, old dreams and an uncertain future. What does he really want? His trying to figure it out is why I liked him. Life is like that – throws curve-balls at plans and all a person can do is stand there, twisting in the breeze with no true path until something seems ‘right’. What he chooses as ‘right’ ends up being his downfall and his saving grace. I didn’t expect it to work out like that but I am glad it did. It contributed to a nice wrap-up for their happy ever after. The author chose the right scenario for her characters and I liked the circular nod to their interesting beginnings.

The most profound and pivotal moment was when Marjorie realized that she won’t settle for what’s expected. She had a ton of examples of that life starting with Lady Stansbury, the epitome of proper. The author did such a great job of detailing the acceptable activities for a lady, I groaned when everyone else did at the mention of her name. Marjorie’s “Aha!” moment was precipitated by her interaction with her old friend, Jenna. That whole scene painted a crystal clear picture of her future if she let it. What follows can be called a classic coalesced romantic HEA – satisfying and complete.

My pace of reading was moderate at best. The author is a master at description to set a scene, with details that painted clear pictures for a reader so that the tone, emotion and environment could come alive. I’m not patient with that type of writing so I was chomping at the bit to get to the good stuff – when Jonathan finally acknowledged to himself that he couldn’t deny himself any longer, that he had to have her, and Marjorie would finally be awakened to the joys of being a woman in all its glory. Finally! It was worth waiting for. I enjoyed watching Marjorie grow as a person and as a woman and I was so happy to see Jonathan finally getting everything he ever dreamed of – even though his dream changed a bit, for the better.

Heiress Gone Wild follows the traditional style for historical romance. It’s a well written character driven story with secondary characters that contribute significant assistance to both the hero and heroine when they need it most. I especially liked Jonathan’s sisters. Oh, and their husbands too. I can easily recommend this book to historical romance fans. This novel is delightful and I am happy I read it.

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His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone

May 28, 2019 By Leave a Comment


His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full length (388 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin. He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal. After three long years he’s finally found her. The hunt is over . . .

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected. She has no memory of their tumultuous affair, of her treachery, of anything beyond her own name. A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant, he game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them. Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.

But the truth is far more shattering than anyone could imagine . . .

I found a fun treasure in my TBR pile. The best thing about discovering the Jaguar Warrior series is that there are three books already published so I can binge read. After reading His Darkest Hunger I was left with a craving to find out what happens next to Jaxon’s brothers. The last chapter left me with a hook and a good idea as to who was going to fall in love next. I’m intending to buy the other two so I can find out.

Ms. Stone wasted no time in immersing me into the action between Jaxon and Libby. At first I thought they were enemies, but the plot is far more intricate and devious than what first appears. Complications pile on top of each other and the twists and turns culminate in harrowing escapes, rescues missions that don’t seem to work out, and an evil force that only presents itself in the final few chapters. Throughout all of that chaos is the romance between Libby and Jaxon. Their passion isn’t a pale thing but a seething cauldron filled with emotions so powerful they can’t help but be together, even when they’re not sure in their trust for each other. Their relationship is definitely a work in progress.

I enjoyed my reading experience, no question about that. I did have a few issues, like when the pace dragged at times, the repetition about Jaxon’s inner jaguar and the difficulty he has with his jaguar, and how easily he seems to fly off of the handle when he’s supposed to be this hotshot, in-charge anti-terrorist warrior. The balance was a bit off kilter. The sex scenes were well written and readers who enjoy every juicy tidbit, in detail, with pages worth of description, will be eminently pleased. I found the story and plot strong enough to skim those parts and never miss a beat. It’s the suspense, romance, explosive action, complications and plot twists that kept my fascinated gaze glued to the pages.

Secondary characters had strong supporting roles in addition to Jaxon’s brothers. Declan in particular stood out. Readers will find out why when they get to the cave. That was an ‘Oooooh’ moment.

Like I said, this was a fun read and I enjoyed spending time with Jaxon and Libby and learning about the ultimate plot thread that I’m sure is going to be woven into the next two books in the series. That kind of evil just can’t be vanquished in only one book. If readers haven’t discovered Ms. Stone’s Jaguar Warrior series yet, then I recommend giving His Darkest Hunger a whirl. I’m especially determined to read the other two after reading the review of the third book, here. Talk about incentive!

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