Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt

Synopsis: Silence Hollingbrook had been scarred the last time she`d had dealings with River Pirate and ruler of St. Giles, `Charming` Mickey O`Connor. She hated him for that night and what it had cost her but she had no choice but to move into his home when he told her that she and the babe she cared for were in danger from his enemies. She knew she would live like a gilded prisoner but she would show him that he could not rule her.

Mickey raised himself from the gutters to be the most feared and respected ruler of the vilest city in London. Known to some as the darkest evil, he recognised his polar opposite in Silence. When he realised he was a father he immediately sent the child to Silence to be protected from his enemies. His enemies were drawing nearer however and he had to protect what is his even if the stubborn lady didn`t care for him, he had claimed her and he had no intention of letting her go even after he dealt with his foes.

Rating: 5/5

Comments: It had all the qualities i like in a plot: reformed rake, baby, pirates and a flabbergasted male confused when a female doesn`t bend to his will, shocking turns in the plot and moments of levity. Best of all it`s the story in the Maiden Lane series I was waiting for!

Never a Gentleman by Eileen Dreyer

Synopsis: Drugged and placed in the bed of the most puritan lady, Diccan Hillard has no choice but to marry the unwilling miss while he uncovers which enemy has trapped him thus. Neither expected to find passion but he must keep her at arms distance in society to protect her. This meant publicly disgracing her and flaunting his mistress in case his enemies were watching him. Through it all Grace, like a good soldier’s daughter put up with it even as he mocks her crippled leg, but she could only take so much humiliation before she leaves him even if she cannot help but love him.

Rating: 5/5

Comments: Wow. So sad and brave Grace is. So stupid and misguided is Diccan. Love the attempted murders and how Grace has many adopted brothers in arms. Page turning even when I wanted to hide in shame and screech in anger of some of the abuses she faced.

The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanne Bourne

Synopsis: British Spymaster Robert Grey has been scouring France for six months for the elusive spy he believes betrayed and murdered his team. Imagine his surprise when he is imprisoned with his quarry! Her handler demands she reveal the location of Napoleon’s invasion plans and does not credence her ignorance, he is a merciless interrogator who has already tortured his English captives, but she is sly and immediately prepares her escape. Grey was not letting the Fox Cub escape him and sets himself to seduce her into taking him with her. He intends to follow her to get the location of the plans for he is confident she has them and then he would exact revenge on her.

Annique Villiers, widely praised in international spy circles as the Fox Cub, is on a mission. She has tired of the spy game and wishes to disappear into the night but first she must decide whether to give Napoleon’s plans to the English or to her compatriots. A month ago she would not have even contemplated the decision, such was her loyalty to France, but Napoleon had massacred unnecessarily of late and her conscience bothered her. She has decided to head to England where her old spy mentor and ambassador to France resides hoping to unburden herself. Unfortunately her ex-handler does not want her to reveal his dark secrets and is prepared to murder her before she reaches him. She also has to contend with the foolish English men she rescued who believe they could keep her. Grey was a sly one to get beneath her skin but nothing could turn her from her duty not even her current blind state. Besides they were born enemies, nothing could come of it…

Rating: 5/5

Comments: This was a re-read and it was just as good. I loved the strong independent Annique. Female spies are my second weakness. Even in blindness she was capable of leading them all to safety. It was amusing when she got her sight back and Grey rescued her but she didn’t know it was Grey because he’d changed his accent. Also interesting when she discovered the grumpy head of section was her true grandfather and that her parents had been double agents from the start and had used her thusly without her knowledge. Overall a good read and wouldn’t mind re-reading. Nice to see the other characters too like Hawker.

Siren’s Song by Trish Albright

Synopsis:

American Captain Alexandra Stafford did not go to the slave auction block without a proper fight. She would have killed her buyer and thus be killed if not for her saviour. She never forgot her intrepid yet foolish rescuer especially since she’d expected him to return her grandmother’s ring the next day when he visited, but he never came. Three years later, on one of her English runs in which she visited with her aristocratic best friend and aunt’s neighbour  Emma, she came face to face with her rescuer- and he didn’t recognise her. Worse still, he was a new Duke and she had a tendency to  wear weapons under her dresses and embarrass her hosts. She didn’t believe they had a future anyway as a relentless stalker is determined to capture her and enact her prophecy but Worthington had other ideas….

Rating: 5/5

Comments: Wow. The book had everything I liked: A fighting female, a touch of mysticism, constant action, witty interactions, laugh out loud comedy and 2 romances in 1 (Emma and Marcus’ story). Lots of scheming on the girls’ part to make Marcus notice Emma and I loved her over protective brothers-sweet!