Lord of Temptation by Lorraine Heath

Synopsis: Lady Anne Hayworth needed a ship to escort her to her fiancé. Crimson Jack came highly recommended, on meeting however, she labeled him a cad for his advances to her. No other sea captain would take her afterward however on orders from Jack. When he propositioned her in her bedroom- the trip for one kiss of his choosing she would have said no if she did not feel instinctively that she could trust him.

Crimson Jack was the name he lived by since his twin brother sold him to a captain to protect him from his murderous uncle. His uncle was dead and he`d reclaimed his place in society but he felt more comfortable on the ocean. When the elegant lady presented herself, he set himself to seduce her even if she did have a fiancé. He felt something for her so intense he could not describe. His place was at sea however and hers was in the ballrooms of the ton.

Rating: 3/5

Comments: It was good. Loved the overprotective yet jealous brother and the polite suitor who turned a blind eye to the obvious attraction between the two. Adored his supportive brothers and can`t wait to read their stories.

Surprising Lord Jack by Sally MacKenzie

Synopsis: Frances Hadley was so mad she left for London the same day. Her goal was to see her family solicitor, get her money and disappear in the countryside. She had enough sense to cut her hair and dress as a lad on her journey but not enough to take provisions with her. Thankfully the owner of an inn took pity on her and offered her a room for the night. She was a sound sleeper so didn’t realise until morning that she’d shared the room with someone else.

Jack Valentine was running away from his mother. The famously known Duchess of Love had already enchanted one of her sons, it was time to escape before she read too much into the young lady that kept stalking him. When the inn keeper’s wife requested he escort his young roommate to London he was hesitant until he realised how innocent ‘he’ was. He just had to make a few pit stops in the red light district to check on his contacts. A murderer was on the loose and young women of disreputable reputations were his prey.  He had no idea his travel companion was the next target.

Rating: 3/5

Comments: It was good. The world thought Jack a wastrel but that was a cover to his philanthropic tendencies. When he discovered Frances’ true identity he enlisted his mother’s aid to dispel any rumours about her reputation and usher her into the society she belonged to but was previously denied.

 

With Every Breath by Lynn Kurland

Synopsis: With his brother at death`s door, Laird Robert Cameron raced to the McLeod witch. He felt a tingle passing through her door but it was the reluctant woman herself that unnerved him. She was indeed a witch for not only was she comely but the clothes she wore was strange and even stranger she kept asking what the date was.

Sunshine Phillip had stayed in Scotland because she loved it. She did not however like the time period she was pulled into. Her brother in law Jamie had warned her of time gates but she`d passed through her own doorway often enough to believe it was not one or so she thought. When the handsome stranger insisted she was needed, she raced to help thinking it was her family in need, when she realised the truth she still felt compelled to aid him. To say his clan did not take to her was an understatement. After almost being drowned for being a witch, she and Cameron were attacked constantly by his own men. When she made it to the time gate, he stayed back to fight. The last image she`d seen of the man of her dreams was a weapon entering his body.

Back in her own time, she was shocked to find her love in her brother in law`s modern castle conducting business in an expensive suit.  Worse, he did not recognise her. Some digging revealed he`d been adopted eight years ago in a hospital by a wealthy relative. He had amnesia and he was engaged to a socialite. He was rich and had obligations in the lime light, she preferred her garden and the quiet. She was devastated but ready to move on, if only he would stop hanging around her so she could do so.

 

Rating: 3/5

Comments: Entertaining but the ending was drawn out and unnecessary. A common enemy from the past was working to slowly destroy his company and kill her when he got too close. Brought back some characters from other books.

The Mistress Memoirs by Jillian Hunter

Synosis: Sir Colin Boscastle had dedicated 13 years of his life to uncovering his father`s murderer and his latest information brought him to the house of his first love. Gorgette is now the most sought after courtesan of the ton and had not forgiven the rogue who seduced and left her forcing her to marry when she discovered she was pregnant with their son. Colin was determined to wait until her latest lover returned to mete out justice.  He never expected Georgette`s children`s governess would distract him from his obsession nor how much danger the ladies were truly in.

Rating: 3/5

Comments: Fascinating. Love the children interaction and when he realised he had a son.

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.

How to deceive a Duke by Lecia Cornwall

Synopsis: Margeurite Lynton had done it all since her father’s death but it wasn’t enough to stop her family from the verge of poverty. When a miracle appeared in the form of an offer from a Duchess for her elder sister to marry a Duke she was flabbergasted when her sister refused the ‘devil’. As the only way to protect her family, Meg takes her place at the alter with a heavy veil. It was easy since the Duke hadn’t been interested in his intended since the arrangement two weeks ago. He was not very forgiving when he found out the truth though, nor when he discovered that his new bride’s father was partially responsible for his brother’s death.

Rating: 3/5

Comments: It had a lot of potential. Thought the last eight chapters were unnecessary but the story on the whole was good. The characters were strong and there were some shocking moments that made for a good book.

To Seduce an Angel by Kate Moore

Synopsis: On the verge of imprisonment and imminent death, Emma makes a deal with her captors to spy on the new Marquess of Daventry. She was to be the nanny to the Marquess’ ragtag street brothers with three weeks probation. She had no intention of truly assisting her handlers. She knew they really meant to kill him. She just needed time to plan an escape. She also needed to build up her resources. She did not want to feel attracted to her temporary employer. Nor did she want him to find out why she was an outlaw.

Rating: 3/5

Comments: The rating bordered on 4. It was that good. Her true identity was a total shocker. I liked the governess romances. The boys were a challenge but she knew exactly what she was doing with them and what she should not be doing with Dav. The roof played a significant role as the special spot of the clan. Thought it suspicious the Duchess didn’t get the pardon a long time ago but it worked out alright.

The Taming of a Scottish Princess by Karen Hawkins

Synopsis: Famed Egyptologist Michael Hurst has made it his life project to find his family heirloom so when information came that the Hurst Amulet was hidden on an isle off of Scotland he and his team set off.

He became intrigued when his efficient and very private assistant of 4 years became very tense on knowing their final destination and made it his mission to discover her secrets throughout their latest adventure. One thing he was troubled to learn was that as he looked more closely at Miss Jane Smythe-Haughton he realised how attracted he was to her and more shocking how attracted she was to him. Their relationship was perfect as it was, his first love will always be his research and he wanted nothing more than an assistant…right.

Rating: 2/5

Comments: Author is a good story teller but there was lots of repetition in statements throughout the book as if there was nothing else to say. The secret was a very good one her being a reluctant princess and all. Not too convinced about the relationship between Uncle and friend. How her uncle suddenly changes from bad to good and how her cousin suddenly grows a back bone. Sort of unresolved as the uncle never did give back the contracts and didn`t she say she was gonna stay and help the cousin solve all the debt problems.

Warrior’s Redemption by Melissa Mayhue

Synopsis: Elesyria, a staunch follower of the Faerie faith, demanded a boon from her goddess that she may reward or avenge the responsible parties for her daughter’s disappearance. When she realized her son-in-law had allowed her daughter to leave this time with her soul mate she decided to reward him by bringing his soul mate to him even though she came from the future. Malcolm was not pleased, he already had enough to worry about with his half-brother trying to destroy him and his sister held prisoner by him he did not want to deal with the pretty lass that was sent to him.

Danielle Dearton had always believed in faeries. She believed the faeries had a higher purpose for her and it did not involve her staying where she was. She just didn’t expect them to send her back in time with all those germs! Her soul mate was not amenable to his destiny but she cannot deny their instant attraction or that she felt more at home here than she’d ever felt in her whole life.

Rating: 3/5

Comments: Liked the faerie magic and the fact the brother was otherworldly gifted. Would have been nice if Malcolm had some powers we only know Elesyria felt the power but this is his story and we don’t know what his strength is. Was it his uncanny ability to heal? Dani really had no purpose in the past. She didn’t really relieve Colm’s suffering nor did she help his people in anyway. It could be argued that she was just meant for him but one would think if she felt like she belonged in the past then why so? I didn’t get it.

What a Duke wants by Lavinia Kent

Synopsis: Isabella Masters was running from the law and her brother, though which she feared most was still uncertain after 2 years. Her latest post was as a companion/nursemaid to a social climber on her way to London’s coronation of the king. At an inn on the way she was rudely told to take the crying baby outside because the Duke need his sleep. While in the barn she encounters a respectful stranger who eagerly agrees to hold the baby while she rests. She believes him the Duke’s man sent to ‘cover the cock’. She does not suspect that he orquestrates their nightly meetings, she does not wonder why a Duke would sleep at some of the inns they stop at, she just wants to spend time with him. When she was willing to give herself to him, they are interrupted and she discovers his true identity and is dismissed.

He could have helped her otherwise but he wanted her close and propositioned her as his mistress. She reluctantly agrees and it is then that she understands he has two personalities: the Duke and her Mark. Her presence in London has two consequences: her family was nearby and a witness to her crime wants to blackmail her also she finds she cannot bare to live like a mistress…

Rating: 3/5

Comments: Shocking, who the blackmailer is and how her family reacted to her return. Liked that she was like a Cinderella, surprising the duke with her costume especially when he thought she was somebody else. Haha.