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.

Never a Lady by Jacquie D’Alessandro

Premonitions of Death forces Colin Oliver, Viscount Sutton to fulfil his duty to his title by finding a wife in the Ton. On the prowl, he was surprised to encounter the thief he’d never forgotten being hailed as  Madame Alexandra, the renowned and much sought after fortune teller.

Alex had thought about him in the four years since and she  quickly hid herself in case he recognized her in her newest guise. Unfortunately while hiding, she overheard a plot to kill an exhalted ton member at a specific ball. Her conscience made her leave a letter explaining her discovery but it was just her luck that the person she addressed it to was murdered and that she is under suspicion as she was seen exiting the room the murder took place. Colin, former spy could not help but sacrifice his retirement to discern if the former thief was innocent or not. Her card reading indicate danger would befall him as he drew closer to a dark haired woman. They both knew it was her, but neither could stay away…

3/5

Moments of comedy especially between brothers. Also like how each was jealous of the other and that the barrier of their class made it interesting. Like little Robbie. However I expected more danger than what was hinted at. The culprit was unexpected though.

One night for love by Mary Balogh

Synopsis:

Neville Wyatt, Earl of Kilbourne married on the battlefield and lost his wife after one night of loving- or so he thought. He’d told no one of it and less than two years later he was standing at the alter. The person running down the aisle was not his new bride, however, but his very alive former wife. His heart immediately recognised her beneath the rags and filth of her attire. He’d hidden behind duty those years ago but he was half in love with her even then. Now that she had returned to him, he had no intention of letting her go despite the jeers from his family and peers about her low breeding.

The only thing that sustained Lily through 2 years of imprisonment was the welcoming arms of her beloved husband. Interrupting his wedding opened her eyes to her naivite and her awkwardness among his class even though he indulged her in her ‘hoyden’ behaviour. Not wanting to shame him anymore, she left, but his perceptive Aunt hired her on ostensibly as a companion, in reality she transforms Lily into what she was meant to be. Someone does not want Lily in Society though, since her arrival, there have been attempts on her life, could it be Neville’s jilted bride or his Aunt’s brooding companion? One thing  is certain though, Neville was just as dangerous to her. He insists that there is no other for him and every time he proves himself he takes away some more of her resolve to stay away.

 Rating: 4/5

 Comments:

This is what I like about Balogh: A touching story with believable characters and dab of mystery…Balogh had me wondering who the culprit was without focusing the story on the danger to Lily. Just when you forgot about the mystery another incident occurred yet it was all interlinked so skillfully that surprisingly the mystery, which seemed so minor turned out to have major consequences on the lives of all the main characters.

NB: engraved locket, father’s army pack, her parents’ residence proximity.

Lily experienced some serious trials and her natural exuberance for life helped her overcome the most of it. All I have to say is : Oh my Gosh, poor Lily!

Imagine the day your father dies is the day your dreams are fulfilled to marry the man you thought you’d never have and after one night together you are shot and left for dead, captured by the enemy then by the allies among other things…

I am happy the Aunt’s friend, was able to fill his emptiness and thus begin to live again.

That jilted bride was some character, befriending Lily to prove to herself she was a ‘good’ girl…weird..

The Forbidden Rose by Joanna Bourne

Synopsis:

Marguerite de Fleurignac a.k.a.The Finch has been betrayed by someone close to her. Surviving the mob’s destruction, she is left hungry, penniless and alone with one goal in mind- she must warn her team to disband. The night before departure, she hides at the sound of horses unsure if her pursuers had returned. A scarred behemoth and his sullen traveling companion set up camp in her home’s ruins. On discovery she does not believe his claim of being a mere traveling salesman. She’d been involved in deception too long not to recognise danger but it would be more dangerous to travel alone in a war torn country especially in her weakened condition….

William Doyle, aka Guillaume LeBreton could not believe his luck. When he’d seen the ruins he thought her in hiding or worse, but the aristocratic lady he’d come for was not as fragile as he’d believed. She lied too easily and it was obvious she was involved in something dangerous. That however was secondary to his mission of using her to lead him to her father. Happily, she was willing to accept him as her escort to Paris, her father’s most likely location. If he played his cards right he could draw her to trust him. He did not count on their mutual attraction, or that he would come to care for her. With a word from her, he would surrender his career as England’s greatest spy, but he will stop her father before anymore men on his list are murdered, and protect his lady from her traitor even if she can’t stand him afterwards…

Rating 4/5

Comments:

With all the hype as the best of Bourne’s spy books, I had some serious expectations that were not fulfilled. I’ll still choose Spymaster’s lady. (I’ll re-read Spymaster’s Lady to make sure my tastes are the same though, it was a couple years ago). Even so, the book was good, had lots of favourite parts.

She was not a spy, her deception was born of necessity and Bourne did portray that well by giving an off hand comment of the birth of La Fleche.

Liked:

Bourne’s brief explanation of La Fleche

Maggie’s father being a dotty genius and his monkey grinder disguise

When she met up with one of her team and was sending code interlaced with normal speech right under Doyle!

Also, this is the prequel to Black Hawk so Hawker was fresh from London’s street and the challenges he had to give in to his brutal training or his inner purity. Hawker was a gem, I liked his scenes particularly especially when Doyle almost had to kill him.

When Maggie was in the bath house meeting her ‘lover’ and Doyle interrupted.

I was in disbelief that Maggie could rescue anyone even though she was the head of La Fleche but her final act proved she was indeed worthy.
I was touched when Doyle admitted to himself he was terrified to die. I understand why, but I would have still like to see Doyle comfort Maggie when she was poisoned or at least react passionately toward her when he was told.

Overall: It was a great read with the usual espionage essence.

Mad About the Earl by Christina Brooke

Synopsis:

Lady Rosamund Westruther was half in love with the man chosen for her before she even met him. Though he was ruder and less refined than she’d expected, she would have him above any of her multiple followers. She could not wait for her wedding day! Unfortunately she could do nothing but wait as her reluctant betrothed dragged his feet to claim her. Three years later, Griffin, now Earl of Tregarth demands she come to him to marry right away, but sweet, docile Rosamund does not dance to anyone’s tune least of all her future husband’s and insists he court her properly or she will refuse him, whatever his motivation for his sudden interest in her.

Griffin was a hulking brute at least that was what he’d been told since birth or before being tormented by his cruel grandsire therefore he thought he was giving his beautiful betrothed a chance to escape him, just like everyone else wanted, by staying away from her. However a threat to his beloved sister forces his hand and he must marry in order to ensure his sister has greater prospects in the marriage mart. Griffin did not expect a love match but as Rosamund gives more and more of herself and he starts to believe that there is hope for himself, an old murder accusation re-emerges that threatens to tear them apart…

Rating: 2/5

Comments:

Classic tale of beauty and beast with a dash of depraved, jealous mother. Well written. Loved the protective brother and the perceptive family. Really worrisome about the mother’s personality. Loved the valet name: Dearlove. There could have been such promise for that name…unfounded jealousy etc. It could have gone into more details about his evil grandfather’s cruelty especially when one of his tormentors plays a role in the story.

Overall:  It was alright.

The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne

Synopsis:

They were spies on opposing sides but ex-aristo Justine DeCabrillac and ex-thief Adrian Hawkhurst became best friends and lovers. War has to have a winner however and they were each passionately involved in the politics of their own country. Justine blamed him for the fall of her leader and they parted on the worse terms. Now someone is trying to frame ‘Hawker’ for the deaths of suspected French caches and Justine only barely survives an assassination attempt on her way to warn him. They have  much to resolve between them but each had not forgotten the passion and respect they felt for the other and as they teamed up to unearth their common enemy they began to wonder at the amount of time they had wasted apart.

Rating: 4/5

Comments:

One of Bourne’s Spymaster novels. My favourite to date is The Spymaster’s Lady. I do not envy Justine her history nor the reason she could not go with her sister to the safety of England. At barely 13 she was older than many middle aged people. It was a sad moment when she gave up the sister she cared for since their parent’s death. She always found a way to visit her though, despite the fact she had to sneak into enemy territory to do so. The story goes back and forth in the various stages of Justine and Adrian’s relationship yet it was related to the mystery of the present. Owl and Hawker were meant to be together from the start despite their birth station and politics yet there was always a situation that kept them apart sometimes for years. Sad that way. Nice when she shot him. Her sister turned out real bossy. I want her story! One issue I had though was with the size of the print.

 Overall: Great read by an insightful spy author!

Noteworthy quotes:

A friend will always lie to you.

A closed door invites eavesdroppers.

Those who want to wish you ill are all amiability.

Death by a surfeit of steel through his belly.

Bride by Mistake by Anne Gracie

Synopsis: Barely an adult in the army, Lieutenant Luke Ripton came upon a young girl being assualted in Spain and rescued her. Realising her situation was too dire to ignore, they marry and he leaves her in a convent while he returned to war. The annulment he requested was denied and he retrieves his wife content with a marriage of convenience. Isabella is  not as happy. She had been pining for her hero for years and when she discovers his attempt to get rid of her added to his expectation that she was meek and obedient, she rebels. Besides she has some unfinished business to take care of before she leaves for her new home with or without her husband.

 Rating: 2/5

 Comments: From the beginning I wanted to put it down. It felt like a children’s book somehow but I held out and there were some nice moments like the hints of her guerilla fighting skills but no display of them unfortunately. I did like the half sister needing rescue situation and that he found glimpses of the girl he’d admired when they first met. The unexpected tie in and resolution of his own fears were a nice touch but not good enough for a proper 2.

 Overall: It started off badly but it turned out alright.

Too Wicked to Wed by Cara Elliott

Synopsis: Lady Alexa first met Connor Linsley, Earl of Killingworth, in a brothel. Months later she comes to Town for a Season and ends up owning half of that same brothel. She refuses to relinquish it no matter the tactics he used insisting she won it fairly. A series of misfortunes proves someone wants the brothel closed and is willing to murder the owners to ensure this. As the two prickly partners spend time together for their own protection Alexa realises the man known in some circles as the Irish Wolfhound was more bark than bite and even if his attitude towards her was harsh and she took issue with him thinking her a mere female, she could not stop caring for him..

  Rating: 2/5

 Comments: She was used to being in control and when her brother returned she felt she had no purpose in life and fit in no where especially not in the Ton. Liked that she thought quickly when they were in trouble. She had a tendency to take over situations he was not ready for. Note: goat hair. He was involved in a brutal business but was gruffly benevolent. I would have liked to see her brother trying to protect her from him.

 Overall: It was alright.

Confessions of an Improper Bride by Jennifer Haymore

Synopsis: Forced to impersonate her deceased docile twin and to engage with her twin’s beaux to secure her younger sisters’ future, Serena Donovan did not expect her new fiance to be close friends with the man that shredded her reputation and scorned her in a moment of great need.

Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford turned destructive the moment he heard of Serena’s death and blamed himself for his weakness in bowing to family pressure at a young age and forsaking her. When he was re-introduced to her ‘sister’ he knew it was his angel for he could always tell them apart and no one else attracted him so. She denied it when confronted but he knew his Serena even after all these years and he must prove to her he was worthy of her love and forgiveness. He wanted his second chance even if he had to steal her from his best friend and destroy her reputation a second time.

 Rating: 2/5

 Comments: Twin-personation! I really held out to the end that her sister would arrive. When all is revealed and the former fiances comfort each other I liked that the Earl felt so insecure. Total shocker about ex-fiance’s past. Could have played up the ‘mistress and child’ situation and there could have been a scene when they ‘caught up about time spent apart’ to prove they really wanted to be a part of each others lives even though they weren’t.

 Overall:  It was a decent read.

The Flame by Jean Johnson

Synopsis: Koranen of Knightfall in an alternate universe is fated through the Curse of the Sons of Destiny to mate with a woman who could douse his flame. He is lucky such a woman exists because if he forgets to  think cool thoughts he could burn a person to death with his mere touch. The trick is to find her and fortunately a contingent of single Aquamancers will soon visit the island to learn how to construct and repair a desalinator plant. Among them must be his fated bride he just has to spend time with all of them. One lady in particular does not appreciate his attentions.

Rating: 1/5

Comments: The worst book to date in the Sons of Desiny series. The S.O.D’s storyline has great potential and I want to read all the books to note whether the potential was fulfilled but certainly this is the least favorite read. The protagonists only bonded because they were ideally created: he is flame and she is ice. Other than this there is no love or struggle to test said love. The only reason I did not skip through the book was because I did not mind seeing what the past protagonists were up to and indeed when one of them had to kill their own wife well! But that had nothing to do with Koranen’s story except to prove his lack of great passion for Danau. Worse, the anti-climatic arrival of Koranen’s twin and matchmaking brother’s fated wife.