Archive for March, 2010

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Review: Knight of Glory

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Most authors have thick skins because opinions are so subjective when it comes to their work. That said, I’d like to briefly explain how I tackle the dreaded DNF reviews I receive from the reviewers. If I can find another reviewer to read the book, I will have someone else have a go at it. Once I receive that new review, I will post both–one will be the DNF and one won’t (2nd reviewer must complete the book). So, to some degree, readers will then get two takes on the book. If I can’t find another reviewer to review the book I will post the DNF review and of course readers will know they are getting an opinion based only on a partial reading of the book and not the whole picture.

I’d like to avoid DNF as much as I can. They have a place, but I think it should be a very, very small percentage of reviews posted. Readers want the whole take on the book, not a partial read.

~*~*~

Knight of Glory
Author: Nicole Zoltack
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Pub. Date: March 1, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1936000494
Novella

Sir Geoffrey, along with some companions, has been sent away from Arnhem, entrusted by Queen Aislinn for a special mission, and has to leave behind the mysterious lady Celestia. On his journey, he uncovers seeds of a sinister plot, learns a horrible secret, and makes a new friend in exile Jenanna.

Their mission completed, Geoffrey and his companions rush to two different kingdoms to ask for aid. Danger and betrayal lurks around every corner, and even allies have secrets that could prove deadly. Geoffrey’s feelings for Celestia grow and wane. After learning some of Celestia’s secrets, he begins to have second thoughts about his love for her and is even drawn to Jenanna.

Rumors abound that the Speicans have enlisted a mage of their own, to work unspeakable, forbidden magic. The war between Speica and Arnhem has just begun. Will Geoffrey survive the battle to live another day and discover which woman he truly loves?

~*~*~


Lack of emotion, poor characterization and poor world-building amounted to a DNF for me.

Let me preface this review by saying I enjoy fantasy. I have lost myself in Middle-earth many, many times during my life. I have also lost myself is such disparate fantasy worlds as J. K. Rowling’s and Guy Gavriel Kay’s.

Unfortunately, I cannot say that Nicole Zoltack’s fantasy realm of Arnhem had the same effect on me. I read about a quarter of Knight of Glory, when I decided that the story’s problems made reading onward more trouble than it was worth.

I do not completely fault the author for this, by the way. The ebook contained numerous typos and confusing sentences, enough to make me see it required much tighter editing.

The story involves Sir Geoffrey, a knight for the mythical kingdom of Arnhem, and his quest for love. He is also involved in a secret mission for the current king and queen of the land to bring back news of the former king and queen, who are thought by the general populace to be dead but who have actually gone into hiding. In typical fantasy fashion, he picks up companions along the way, including Jenanna, a mysterious girl from another land.

My issues with the story-telling began in the opening chapter, in which the hero attends a ball and finds himself attracted to a woman named Celestia. How do I know of his attraction? Because the author tells me about it without actually showing any of the emotional impact that ought to accompany such an event. The characters talk, but no chemistry exists between them. That’s all right, actually, because I got the idea from the outset that Celestia isn’t the heroine of the story.

If anything, she’s an enemy spy.

Which brings me to my next point. For a fantasy hero, Geoffrey comes across as awfully dense. He doesn’t pick up on anything off about Celestia when she keeps directing the conversation away from her origins. Later in the story, Geoffrey lets Jenanna (the heroine) join what is supposed to be a top-secret mission, even though he tells her to her face that he does not trust her. Mere paragraphs later, he accepts food from her, even though it’s a sort of food he is unfamiliar with.

Any good fantasy relies on solid world-building to keep the reader engaged. Unfortunately, here again, this story falls short. The kingdom of Arnhem seems to rely on a medieval-level of technology. There are a lot of knights running around with swords, involved in sieges and such. Add to this a few mentions of mythical creatures, such as dragons and kelpies, the use of magic, a holy order, and you’ve got your typical Dungeons-and-Dragons sort of fantasy world.

It’s jarring to me as a reader, then, to read about the northern hemisphere, say, or to have one of the characters talking about going through puberty. Such instances (and there were others) read as too modern for the world.

The chapter where Geoffrey and his companions finally come upon the king and queen in hiding, only to find the queen dead and the old king nearly so, turned into the deal-breaker for me. It was written in such a way that I was supposed to believe the former monarchs were popular and beloved. When both of them died without any of the characters showing the least bit of grief or remorse, or, really, any emotion at all, I was done.

How am I supposed to believe in an emotionless romance?

Rating: DNF

Heat Level: N/A (I didn’t actually get to anything resembling kissing, but the rating on the publisher’s website is “sweet”)

Buy Links: Desert Breeze Publishing ~ $5.99

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Best Historical of 2009 Giveaway!

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

As promised, today I’m giving away 3 copies of Jennifer Ashley’s, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, The Season’s 2009 Best Historical recipient. I have to say that I bought this book because of all the great buzz it was getting when it was released. I was a tad squeamish because the hero had been in asylum due to his ‘rages’. Premises like that usually don’t appeal to me, but I was in the mood to try something different, and I’m so happy I did. I completely understand why this book won. It’s the first book in Jennifer’s Mackenzie series and I’m anticipating the second book, Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage with bated breath. No, seriously, I’m not kidding. You will too once you read this book. So, if you don’t win a copy today, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie is definitely worth a visit to an online book store.

Speaking of the Best of 2009, which book(s) made your list?

~*~*~

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Publisher: Leisure Books
Pub. Date: April 28, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0843960433
320 pages

The youngest brother, Ian, known as the Mad Mackenzie, spent most of his young life in an asylum, and everyone agrees he is decidedly odd. He’s also hard and handsome and has a penchant for Ming pottery and beautiful women.

Beth Ackerley, widow, has recently come into a fortune. She has decided that she wants no more drama in her life. She was raised in drama–an alcoholic father who drove them into the workhouse, a frail mother she had to nurse until her death, a fussy old lady she became constant companion to. No, she wants to take her money and find peace, to travel, to learn art, to sit back and fondly remember her brief but happy marriage to her late husband.

And then Ian Mackenzie decides he wants her.

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Posted in Best of the Year, Giveaways | 56 Comments »

Review: Lessons From a Scarlet Lady

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Lessons From a Scarlet Lady
Author: Emma Wildes
Publisher: NAL / Signet Eclipse
Pub. Date: January 5, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0451228796
Retail Price: $6.99
336 pages

The Duke of Rolthven’s new wife, Brianna, is the perfect aristocratic bride. So what would society say if they saw her with a copy of Lady Rothburg’s Advice–a courtesan’s lessons for the boudoir? When his innocent wife suddenly becomes a vixen in the bedroom, the proper Duke is truly astounded by her seductive powers. Following a courtesan’s advice might lead to trouble-but will it lead to Brianna’s ultimate desire: winning her husband’s love?

~*~*~


Emma Wildes takes the historical romance genre and adds a touch of erotic. Lessons From a Scarlet Lady is an intriguing read that begins with one heck of a steamy sex scene!

Having never read Wildes previous novel,  An Indecent Proposition, I wasn’t quite sure what I was about to read. At the start, we’re introduced to Brianna Northfield (newly married to Colton Northfield, Duke of Rolthven) who is attempting to seduce her prim and proper husband by wearing a very revealing gown to the opera… And succeeds.  We soon learn that Brianna has acquired a book of advice on seducing a man and pleasing him sexually in all types of manners.

The storyline also introduces Colton’s brothers Robert and Damien as well as Brianna’s closest friends, married Arabella Smythe and single Rebecca Marston.   I found that as the story went on the main focus shifts to a budding love between Robert and Rebecca, and the storyline with Brianna and Colton, while still being important, fades into the background.  Wildes shift in focus still keeps Brianna and Colton in play through group interactions and very detailed, borderline erotic love scenes.  The scandalous book also changes hands, allowing the reader to follow both Brianna and Rebecca, as they explore its advice. There are also tidbits from the book at the start of each chapter, allowing the reader to gather a bit more of what the book is all about aside from what the ladies are either discussing or putting into action.

In all the other historical romances I’ve read, the author will take her time to build sexual tension between the characters, allowing the reader to start to anticipate when the main characters will unite. Not Wildes! From the very beginning there are many steamy scenes, which I am perfectly fine with, but those readers who like gentle, less descriptive love scenes, beware!

The only issue I found with Lessons is that the main focus is shifted quite abruptly, and I found myself having to stop and gather my thoughts to follow along. It was surprising, as I was expecting to only follow Brianna and her trials, not both hers and Rebecca’s.

In the end, I found myself wanting more, much more. I wanted to know more about Robert and Rebecca’s story as well as the continuation of Brianna and Colton’s.  I certainly hope that Wildes has plans of revisiting them in the future! Emma if you are reading this, remember Damien still has a story to be told! :)

Rating: 7.5 (Good +)

Heat Level: 5-6 (Bordering on Erotic)

Buy Links: Book Depository ~ $5.99 | Diesel eBook Store – $4.57


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When to cry ‘Uncle’

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

I’ve adored many writers in my time. I’ve read and loved their books as they’ve taken me from the American West to the Regency ballrooms, and the medieval times through Georgian escapades. I would buy their books without bothering to read the back cover blurb because I trusted them. Trusted they would deliver a story and characters I could immerse myself in thoroughly for hours of reading pleasure.  I preferred some books more than others, which is completely normal, for every book can’t elicit the exact emotion.

Then one day I bought and read one of their books and was left…less than satisfied. Something in the book didn’t work for me. But hey, every author can’t deliver, what I consider, stellar reads every time, right? Next book is sure not to disappoint. My instant-buy author has only failed me this one time. They won’t fail me again. I’m sure of it.

Please, say it aint so. You're killing me!

Unfortunately, I’m proven wrong because next book doesn’t work for me either. What’s going on? Have they lost their mojo? Or maybe I’ve changed–something in my tastes have shifted? I go back and read one of their older books. Perhaps, I’ll discover it’s not as good as I thought it was. Nope, I read several older books and the magic is there. I’m just as captivated as I was when I read it the first and second time before.

I decide I’m once again going to give my much loved author the benefit of the doubt. Two strikes doesn’t put you out of the game. I’m sure the next book will have all the elements that drew me to her books to begin with.

And the next book…? Sigh, another strike.  What on earth is going on? Why isn’t she writing the kind of books I love anymore? Do I continue buying her books and pray that she’ll write the stories I’ve come to expect from her? When should I throw up the white flag and cry ‘Uncle’?

Have you ever had this happen to you–your favorite author starts writing books that you just don’t like? Whatever magic captivated you before is gone? The story, the characterization is different, and not to your liking? How many ‘duds’ do you permit before you stop buying their books completely?

When to cry 'Uncle' on your favourite author?

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**Two answers permitted.

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Miranda Neville ~ Writer Envy

Monday, March 15th, 2010

If you’re a writer, you’ve experienced it at one time or another. If it was a disease, we’d all be wiped out by it. Thank goodness it only makes us human. Today please welcome Miranda Neville to the blog as she discusses the writers she most envies and celebrates the release of her sophomore book, THE WILD MARQUIS (You know you wouldn’t have your marquises any other way ;) ).

Writer Envy: Who Do I Wish I Was?

I just read (I know, years late) The Smoke Thief by Shana Abé. One reason I knew it was a good book was that I kept thinking “This is so good. I should write a book like this.”

Of course I can’t. Abé’s prose is lyrical and lush and her subject matter is paranormal. My own writing style is more earthbound and ironic. But that doesn’t save me from committing the sin of writer envy. Certain writers regularly inspire me with jealous torments.

I love the way Liz Carlyle sets a scene, especially a sordid scene. The opening of Tempted All Night, for example. Without going into a lot of description, she makes you see the shady pub – and incidentally tells you a whole lot about her hero.

“It’s generally said that a man can be known by the company he keeps, and Tristan Talbot was likely the only fellow in London who went dicing with his manservant. That his servant disdained the Three Shovels as beneath his dignity served only to further illuminate the level to which Tristan sometimes sank. And illumination was direly needed at the Shovels, for the place was dark as a den of thieves.

Actually, it was a den of thieves. And rogues and sharps and bawds—even the occasional gentleman out for a low-class lark. From somewhere deep inside the low-ceilinged alehouse, raucous laughter rang out….”

I’m always telling people Janet Mullany is the funniest historical writer around, though why I bother to qualify the statement I don’t know. Can’t think of any funnier in any genre. Only Janet—in the Rules Of Gentility– would set her marriage proposal in the bathroom.

“What are you doing in there?”

“It’s a water closet. What sort of question is that?”

“Well hurry up. I want to propose to you.’ He thumps on the door again and mutters something about women taking so long in there. It must be all the petticoats.

My papa comments that he’s always thought it so too.

The  Wild Marquis
Author: Miranda Neville
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: March 9, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061808708
384 pages

He is notorious for his wretched morals and never received in respectable houses. The ladies of the ton would never allow him in their drawing rooms . . . though some of them have welcomed him into their bedchambers. Rejected from his father’s house at the age of sixteen, he now lives a life of wanton pleasure. So what could the Marquis of Chase possibly want with Juliana Merton, a lovely, perfectly upstanding shopkeeper with a mysterious past?

A moment’s indiscretion?

A night’s passion?

Or a lifetime of love?

Even the wildest rakes have their weaknesses . . .

I envy Eloisa James’ ability to effortlessly convey romantic deliciousness, as in this random page from Desperate Duchesses, perhaps my favorite Eloisa.

“Damon was well aware he was consumed by lust. It was a dangerous state. He’d never before experienced it as a sort of waking fever dream, as the past few days when he walked the halls of Beaumont House merely so that he could catch a whiff of Roberta’s perfume, or see the flutter of her dress retreat around a corner.”

Anna Campbell’s dark sensuality leaves me gaping. How does she do that?

“He told himself her body was all he wanted.

The declaration sounded laughably hollow. The feverish encounter had bitten more deeply than the fleeting demands of flesh alone ever could, however much he wished it otherwise.

She took a shuddering breath as he settled at her side. He fought the urge to stroke the damp black hair back from her brow. She wouldn’t welcome his tenderness, he knew with piercing regret. (Claiming the Courtesan)

Among the many things I envy in Susan Elizabeth Phillips is her ability to construct a big multi-character ensemble scene. The most fun may the one where a horde of giant professional sportsmen invade the heroine’s house (“Get your big-ass shoes off my sofa cushions.”) My favorite is the dinner party in Ain’t She Sweet when Sugar Beth turns an event designed to humiliate her into a triumph. We see her emerge with grace and dignity and Colin’s emotions turn from revenge to shame to love. There’s nothing I find more satisfying than seeing the tables turned.

And then there’s Loretta Chase. I’d kill to write like Chase. All I can do after devouring one of her books is to pray that some of her genius rubs off on me.

Among your favorite authors, can you pinpoint exactly what aspects of their work you like the most? One answer will win a signed copy of The Wild Marquis.

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Posted in Authors, Avon Books, Giveaways | 50 Comments »

Review: Taming the Highland Bride

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Taming the Highland Bride
Author: Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: January 26, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061344787
Retail Price: $7.99
384 pages

She was ready to let her heart run wild . . .

Merry Stewart has had enough! Enough of her brothers, whose behavior would make even the most improper lady blush. Enough of their highland home, which would surely have fallen to ruin were it not for her. She dreams of escaping into the arms of her betrothed, Alexander d’Aumesbery—even though they haven’t yet met. But when they do, Merry is devastated. It seems he’s no better than the men in her family.

So beautiful, so brazen . . .

From the moment he meets Merry, Alexander is overcome with desire. Desperate to convince her he’s nothing like the members of her roguish clan, he will prove he is every bit the well-mannered gentleman. Yet beneath it all beats a heart as intense and uncontrollable as hers. And finally, when his life is threatened, Merry realizes he’s the husband she’s been waiting for . . . and their passion becomes the one thing that cannot be tamed.

~*~*~

Taming the Highland Bride is a page turner in which the hero and heroine must overcome many obstacles to find love.  Lynsay Sands’ light and easy prose makes this fast-paced story about mistrust and misunderstandings, a fluid read.

Alex is patient, sweet and loyal man and I like that a lot about him. Even though he has misgivings about Merry from rumors that she is a shrew, from the beginning he is attracted to her. He wants to make her happy to be his wife. My only problem with Alex is that he is not portrayed as a warrior. For the better part of the book, Merry runs the household and holds the men together, while Alex is constantly in harm’s way and banged up.

Merry is a strong, independent and caring woman. After suffering through years of taking care of her drunken brothers and father, she is desperately seeking a new life. I honestly felt Merry’s disappointment at her first encounter with her Alex, knowing she feels as though she’s traded one horrible situation for another.

As they both try to move forward from their awkward first encounter, they both have to learn to let go and find love. I enjoyed the way Alex worked to lower Merry’s guard and prove that he is not like the men in her family. He takes his time and doesn’t force her but rather shows her that he is a man of honor.  Sure enough, on their adventure to Scotland, Merry sees her husband for the man he truly is and allows him to slowly enter her heart.

While they are both discovering their newfound feelings for one another, mystery and danger lurks around every corner. I felt the mystery incorporated throughout the story was interesting and at the end I was a little surprised at the villain. But I wanted them to dig around to discover who was behind the “mysterious” incidents, and was slightly disappointed that they just happen to stumble across the truth.  No one else seemed to be concerned about the danger they were in except Merry.

Overall, I would recommend Taming the Highland Bride to anyone who wants a quick and enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more book in this series.

Rating: 6 (Satisfactory)

Heat Level: 3 (Sensual)

Buy Links: Bookrak ~ $6.40 | Barnes & Noble (ebook) ~ $5.59

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Review: The Marriage Ring

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

The Marriage Ring
Author: Cathy Maxwell
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: February 23, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061771927
Retail Price: $7.99
368 pages

The woman who will one day wear Richard Lynsted’s ring will be genteel, dainty, and well-bred.

This eliminates Grace MacEachin on all three counts. A hellion of the first order, the alluring, infuriating woman would be nothing more than a passing temptation to an upstanding gentleman like Richard—if it weren’t for the fact that she’s trying to blackmail his father!

Or, as Grace sees it, trying to get justice—and maybe just the slightest hint of revenge on the family that tore her life asunder when she was just a girl. And as for Lynsted, well, the stuffy, humorless man wouldn’t suffer for time spent in company more exciting than that of his company ledgers. Only when Richard gets Grace alone, she discovers he may know a thing or two about excitement after all . . .

~*~*~

The Marriage Ring is a touching story about love and trust between two people very much alone in the world. This book takes an overworked, stoic man and pits him against an independent, experienced woman— and let me tell you… the sparks are going to fly!

The Marriage Ring is an interesting tale of discovery, matching two very unlikely characters in a battle of stubborn wills. But this battle turns to a love that neither expects and a story that leaves the reader with a pleasant smile on their face. It is an odd romantic story, no less sweet, but a strange progression to love and perhaps a little rushed. You do feel the characters getting to know each other better – something I liked about this book.  I often read books where you don’t get a sense of growth between the leading characters and their love then seems too forced. Cathy does not let us down with her loving tale.

Richard, our hero, is a rare breed; a celibate man with a hidden sensual side, a mix of naivety and daring. He is intelligent and hardworking but possesses an air of innocence about him that I have never seen before in a romance novel. I had a hard time warming up to him… just my personal taste as I like the strong, dominant male types in my stories.

He is a good match for our bold, independent heroine Grace. She is full of fire and spunk and takes nonsense from no one. But a troubled past and a lot of heartache has left her unable to trust, just the ticket when she is traveling in a carriage with a straight-laced man who keeps telling himself he wants nothing to do with her… but we all know what he is really thinking…

The love scenes in this book are tame but loving, great for those who don’t like the graphic descriptions found in some other books. 

Overall, this story was a mild tale that missed the mark on my excitement scale. If a book is “light on the love” it needs to be strong in plot to hold a reader’s interest. That being said, I would still recommend Cathy Maxwell as an author.  I have read at least half of her books and thoroughly enjoyed them all.

Rating: 7 (Good)

Heat Level: 2 (Mild)

Buy Links: Book Depository ~ $6.49 | Barnes & Noble (ebook) ~ $5.59

Comment to enter to win your own copy of The Marriage Ring.

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And the winners are…

Saturday, March 13th, 2010


Congratulations, ladies! Please email your contact information to me at historicals at historicalromancereleases dot com.

Stay tuned, next week I’ll be giving away 3 copies of Jennifer Ashley’s The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie.

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Review: The Hellion and the Highlander

Friday, March 12th, 2010

The  Hellion and the Highlander
Author: Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: February 23, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061344794
Retail Price: $7.99
416 pages

Only one man could set her heart ablaze . . .

Lady Averill Mortagne learned to control her fierce temper as a young girl. But if her father insists on parading her before one more English lord who looks askance at her flame-colored hair, she’ll simply scream! Her only respite is the time she spends with Kade Stewart, the wounded Scot her brother brought home from the Crusades. Who could have imagined a Highland warrior would be the only gentleman around?

Lady Averill helped save his life, and for that Kade is truly grateful. She is also almost unbearably beautiful, but he could never subject such a sweet and gentle lady to the rough life of a Stewart laird’s bride . . . or could he? When she braves an unexpected danger by his side, Averill will prove to Kade that her heart is as fiery as her hair . . . and that submitting to their scorching passion would be heaven indeed.

~*~*~

The Hellion and the Highlander is a fast-paced highland escapade with some great twists and turns to keep you flipping through the pages.

Book #1

I am not  regular with Lynsay Sands, having only read a selected few of her historical novels and none of her more well known paranormal contemporary books like her Argeneau Vampire Series. I have read the other two books in The Devil of the Highland series – Devil of the Highlands and Taming the Highland Bride – and enjoyed them both. However, this book lacked that little something extra that would make me want to keep it on my book self. That is not to say that I didn’t enjoy the read, it just wasn’t one of my favorites.

The plot moved quickly, getting right into the story, which is an element I liked about this book. Too often you look up, its page 212, and you are just getting into the main theme or plot of the book. The love story is nice, a lukewarm kinda nice, but not the fan-myself heat you get with other books and that is not a bad thing. I think it was well suited to the storyline and the characters.

Book #2

Our hero Kade is a sensitive, caring man yet still the strong Scottish warrior we expect. It is not often that we find a leading man who works hard to raise the self-esteem of his lady. Averill, our heroine, is a pleasant mix of the shy and unsure paired with a backbone of steel and some hidden depth.  That being said however, I did not feel the character development made you want to become part of the story. You did not really feel any empathy for the characters or their plight.

The intimate scenes in this book are very few but still a little steamy.

Overall, this was not a book I would read again but would recommend to anyone who enjoys a historical set in Scotland.

Rating: 6 (Satisfactory)

Heat Level: 3 (Sensual)

Buy Links: Book Depository~$6.49 |   Amazon (Kindle ebook) ~ $5.59


Comment to enter to win your own copy of The Hellion and the Highlander.

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Giveaway: Goddess of the Hunt

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

As promised, to celebrate the first book to win The Season’s 2009 Best Historical Debut, I’m giving away 3 copies of the winning book, GODDESS OF THE HUNT.

I read GOTH and loved it! It features one of my favourite tropes: heroine in love with brother’s bestfriend but with a twist–wrong best friend. If you haven’t had an opportunity to read Jeremy and Lucy’s story, comment to enter to win a copy of Tessa Dare’s debut novel today.

~*~*~

Goddess of the Hunt
Author: Tessa Dare
 Publisher: Ballantine
Pub. Date: July 28, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0345506863
Retail Price: $6.99
Pages: 384

Ever the bold adventuress, Lucy Waltham has decided to go hunting for a husband. But first she needs some target practice. So she turns to her brother’s best friend, Jeremy Trescott, the Earl of Kendall, to hone her seductive wiles on him before setting her sights on another man. But her practice kisses spark a smoldering passion—one that could send all her plans up in smoke.

Jeremy has an influential title, a vast fortune, and a painful past, full of long-buried secrets. He keeps a safe distance from his own emotions, but to distract Lucy from her reckless scheming, he must give his passions free rein. Their sensual battle of wills is as maddening as it is delicious, but the longer he succeeds in managing the headstrong temptress, the closer Jeremy comes to losing control. When scandal breaks, can he bring himself to abandon Lucy to her ruin? Or will he risk his heart, and claim her for his own?

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Posted in Best of the Year, Contests, Giveaways | 63 Comments »

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