To Wed a Highlander by Michele Sinclair
Why I read this: The first book which I reviewed here was one of my best reads of that year. I was excited and thrilled to get my hands on this next McTiernay brothers book.

To Wed a Highlander, focuses on the second McTiernay brother, Colin, who is forced to marry his brazen, impetuous sister-in-law, Makenna, in order to protect the clan of his beloved, gentle dead wife.

Pride and unfamiliar desire guides much of their initial interactions as each wrestle with unexpected and intense feelings for the other. Conor and Laurel (from The Highlander's Bride) come back in this story and add to the lively interplay plaguing the Dunstan keep as Colin and Makenna discover the joy of their hidden, unknown passions.

This has been one of those books where I dread the ending because I simply do not want the book to end. Colin is as wonderful as his brother was in the first book and Makenna is a heroine who I would love to be friends with in real life.

Colin is the typical alpha medieval highlander male who goes to great lengths to make sure his wife and clan are protected. He is big, strong and has a heart of gold.

The reason I like Makenna so much is because she started off as terrible 'lady of the keep'. She did not know how to manage the household duties of being Lairds. Growing up, she was always practicing her sword play and had no want or will to learn how to cook, clean, manage, etc. When she comes to realize how much her non-actions are effecting everyone withing the castle, she swallows her pride and asks for help.

One of the biggest conflicts in the story is that the clan does not like the new laird. Not because he is mean or uncaring, but because there is a clash of customs when it comes to highlanders VS lowlanders. The clan does not want A McTiernay to lead them, so they rebel against the new Laird.

Ah, but when when the clan is attacked who do you think they run to for help? To their Laird, of course.

My only complaint was the head hopping, however, the story was good enough to look over it most of the time. I wont pretend that it didn't bother me, though.

B+. A sweet love story mixed in with an interesting plot. It was a real treat to see Connor and Laurel come back in this story, and I look forward to the many more McTiernay brothers books to come.

Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson
Why I read this: Ames read it for the re-read challenge last month, it sounded very good.

Annie Trimble lives in a solitary world that on one enters or understands. As delicate and beautiful as the tender blossoms of the Oregon spring, she is shunned by a town that misinterprets her affliction. But cruelty cannot destroy the love Annie holds in her heart.

Alex Montgomery is horrified to learn his wild younger brother forced himself on a helpless "idiot girl." Tormented by guilt, Alex agrees to marry her and raise the babe she carries as his own. But he never dreams he will grow to cherish his lovely, mute, misjudged Annie—her childlike innocence, her womanly charms and the wondrous way she views her world. And he becomes determined to break through the wall of silence surrounding her—to heal—and to be healed by Annie's sweet song of love.

Annie's Song was a good romance that left a warm, fluffy feeling in my heart. I just love feeling good at the end of a romance and thinking, "That's how all love should be."

Poor Annie didn't have it easy in life. Everyone thought her to be dimwitted, and she was treated as such. Her parents loved her, but didn't show it to her in the right way. They kept her hidden most of the time thinking that it was best for her, but really, it just made things worse.

After Annie is attacked and becomes pregnant, Alex, the attackers brother, steps up and marries Annie.

At first Alex thinks just what everyone else thinks... that Annie is just some dumb girl who doesn't know anything. After getting a wake up call from his housekeeper, he soon finds out that there is nothing mentally wrong with Annie, she simply can't hear.

Together, they find ways to communicate, and as Alex helps Annie, he falls head over heels in love with her.

Reading Annie's Song felt like magic. It was like a different version of an old fashioned Cinderella story.

Great book, great story. A.

Moon Awakening by Lucy Monroe
Why I read this: Nath's Re-Read Challenge of books from the keeper shelf.

When Emily Hamilton's family is ordered to send a woman to the Scottish highlands for marriage to the laird of the Sinclair, Emily volunteers in order to save her younger sister from such a fate. But at her new home, the only friend she finds is the laird's sister-especially after Emily's stubborn streak causes the laird to cancel the marriage. And though her plans have gone awry, she refuses to return home...

Lachlan Balmoral is laird of his clan-and leader of his pack. One of the most feared werewolves prowling the Highlands, he is on the march against the hated Sinclair, who have abducted a Balmoral woman. He kidnaps the sister of the Sinclair laird, planning to marry her off in revenge-but the woman he takes along with her proves to be the greater prize...

For Emily feeds a desire he has never known existed. And though Lachlan would not think of touching his enemy's betrothed, he must know how a mere woman could tame his heart so easily...

It was difficult to pick a book for this challenge. There are only 12 months in a year and I have way more than 12 books on my keeper shelf, so just picking the first book to read was a challenge on it's own.

This book was decided on because I remembered from my first read that, I was emotionally invested in the book. I knew that the author had written it in a way that made me feel like I was in the story, that I was the heroine. I wanted to feel that way again.

This is the link to my original review of this book. Reading it I notice that my reviewing style has changed over the years. I used to give away most of the story, and that does not happen anymore.

In Moon Awakening, Emily is sent to marry a Laird who she does not want, and who does not want her. While waiting for the Laird to set a wedding day, Emily becomes good friends with the Laird's sister. One day they are both kidnapped, and during their captivity, Emily falls in love with Lachlan, the Laird who has captured her.

My opinion on a few of the story issues has changed. I no longer feel annoyed that Emily was kept housed in a tower room that is normally meant for prisoners. After the first night she had the freedom to come and go and she pleased, so it's not like she was treated like a captive.

Something new that didn't bother me before but tended to make me pause this go around is the use of 'sweetest spot'. Emily's sweetest spot is her clitoris. Since I am a fan of the authors work and I have read all of her books, I've come to notice that the term is used in some of her other books. Lucy Monroe writes amazing love scenes that are super sexy, so 'sweetest spot' feels out of place for me. It would suit better with more vanilla love scense, I think.

For me, reading this book the second time made it all the better. It was a B- the first time I read it, and now it is a B+. It's not perfect, but it's damn good and it made me happy to read it a second time. I'm even thrilled to read it a 3'rd and 4'th time!

To Seduce a Texan by Georgina Gentry
Why I read this: It was the cover and blurb that attracted me to it. Plus I can never turn away from a kidnapping plot.

Texan Will 'Waco' McCain and his gang are under orders to rob a bank in Prairie View, Kansas, and get the loot back to their home state, pronto. Trouble is, the town's crawling with Yankee soldiers so it's on to Plan B: kidnap the banker's stepdaughter. Nabbing the delectable Rosemary Burke turns out to be easy as pie. But Waco soon discovers the smart, stubborn heiress is quite the handful - in every sense.

Rosemary knows this kidnapping is the perfect opportunity for her greedy stepfather to get rid of her and keep her inheritance, which is why he's ignoring her captors' ransom demands. Truth be told, living in close quarters with the handsome cowboy isn't the worst thing to happen to a girl who's had few chances to hone her feminine wiles. Come to think of it, seduction might be her best chance at escape - not to mention a bit of fun.

With the ransom dropping, his deadline looming, and something entirely unexpected blooming with Rosemary, Waco wonders if this dangerous game she's playing is about to turn deliciously real...

To Seduce a Texan had elements that I enjoy in books.

1. Kidnapping
2. Historical Western
3. A parental villain
4. An ugly ducking heroine

It should have been a book that I had a good time reading.

It wasn't.

My first issue is that even though I like a heroine who is not model perfect, I don't like to be constantly reminded of her physical short comings. It was mentioned in just the first chapter alone that she was plump, too round or fat-- five times. It was mentioned several more times, per chapter, until chapter four. From then on it was repeated only every other chapter instead of every other page, like it had been.

My second issue is that the heroine was made out to be a lady. Dialogue from people around her as well as her own inner dialogue stressed it. She expected to be treated like one, however, she had a mouth that no lady in that time would have used. Her favourite thing to say was "shut up" and she was fond of name calling.

My third issue is that there were several phrases both in narrative and dialogue that were used, word for word, more than once. It was distracting to read the same things over like that. I kept getting flashes of deja vu, and twice I stopped reading and flipped back to see if there was a printing error with the page numbers. Not so. It was all in the right order.

All of those I could have kept on reading through if not for the fact that I could not stand to read one more word from the uneducated, backward hero. I get that he had no learnin' and that he don't know what them there big words mean, (*Ahem* sarcasm) but holy hell, reading the way he talks made me feel like I didn't have an education past the second grade. It was way too distracting, and did nothing to make the hero look like, well, a hero!

To Seduce a Texan is not a book I could finish reading. DNF.

Darker than Love by Kristina Lloyd
Why I read this: I was told that the author was supposed to be the next big thing in BDSM writing. Of her published books, this is the one that appealed to me the most.

Clarissa is set to marry Lord Marldon, the depraved and gleefully cruel earl to whom she’s been promised. When her friends try to scupper the proposed marriage, Clarissa, oblivious to their plan, falls in love with Gabriel, a beautiful Italian artist. Marldon hears of the blossoming relationship and kidnaps Clarissa, imprisoning her in his Piccadilly mansion and subjecting her to his darkest desires. When Gabriel attempts a rescue, he too is taken captive and the young lovers find themselves at the mercy of the debauched lord.

Darker than Love is a very dark read. It is marketed as a BDSM book, but it's less that and more head games mind control. I'll say right off the bat that even if you like BDSM (and I do) this is not a book for everyone. Even though the heroine's body is not violated, unless you count her being forced to perform oral sex when she does not want to, her mind is violated. Her captor, a twisted and cruel Earl, uses mind games and Clarissa's sexual kinks against her in order to get his own way and simply because he is a bastard, who enjoys seeing other people suffer.

I liked Kristina Lloyd's writing style. As much as I don't consider Darker than Love to be the best BDSM book I have ever read, it was indeed entertaining.

It's rare for me to enjoy an erotic historical because the ones I have read have been too off course when it comes to many things (dress, manners, etc) It was easy to tell that the author did her research, and even though it was an unconventional read, it stayed true to it's time, even for an erotic.

Darker than Love gets a C. I'm tempted to rate it higher because I have next to nothing negative to say about it, however, I expect to feel sexy when reading an erotic--that did not happen with this book. I also wont be re-reading this book, there was just a little bit too much dark not enough romance for my tastes.

Passion by Lisa Valdez
Why I read this: It was in a box of books that I got a yard sale for $2.00. It's been sitting in my TBR pile since the summer, but I hate the cover so thats why it took so long for me to read. When I wasn't sure which book to read next, I told my dog to pick one. I brought her to my TBR shelf, and picked the first one she licked. LOL

A woman called Passion. A man who would make her true to her name.

In her second year of mourning, lovely young widow Passion Elizabeth Dare never dreamed she would be with a man again--and certainly not a complete stranger. But amidst the crowds of London's Crystal Palace, Passion finds herself discreetly, yet insistently, pursued by a sensual gentleman who awakens her long-supressed desires. After a loveless marriage of restrained propriety, Passion abandons herself to true bliss for the first time.

Intoxicated by his encounter with the beautiful stranger, Mark Randolph Hawkmore, Earl of Langley, cannot wait to see her again. As a series of rapturous rendezvous follows, he and his mystery lover find something rare and wonderful blossoming between them. But a blackmail scheme against the Earl threatens to destroy everything. As a scandal brews, each will have to choose between duty and desire...their love for their families--and their love for each other.

Oh, wow. I was not expecting such a sexy read. Truly, I was shocked! What a pleasant surprise :)

I understand why readers are so up in arms about the release of the second book. I'm dying to read it, too. Can Lisa Valdez pull off another Passion? Some say no, and that's why Patience is so far behind in its release. I have no idea what the the truth is behind Patience is, but what I do know is that I enjoyed Passion, a lot.

Our Heroine, Passion, meets the hero, Mark, while she out in public. The attraction is instant, and that very same day they have sex, hidden behind a big Chinese screen, while people mill about.

Passion is a widow, and even though her name is Passion, she lacked that type of intimacy in her marriage. Her husband was more of a wham bam thank you mam, type of guy. In their years of marriage, Passion was never even naked in front of him.

Passion and mark meet daily behind the screen to make love. Mark want to know about her, but Passion would rather they keep their identities secret. She wants to enjoy her time with him, and then go back home.

Mark isn't having any of that, though, he wants more from her. More than just wild sex, he wants her heart.

Things take a turn for the lovebirds when Mark is blackmailed into becoming engaged to Passion's cousin. Passion is heart broken, Mark is angry, and since Passion doesn't want to be Mistress, nor betray her cousin, she breaks things off with Mark.

It is a romance, so the two do end up together, but it takes a time for them to get there. I was in tears reading some the scenes in this book. I wanted them to be together so bad, I didn't want them to have to wait, or sneak around, or have any troubles at all. It's always nice to like both the hero and heroine in a book.

Passion is an A read for sure. I will now sit back and see how patient I can be for Patience to come out.

How to Abduct a Highland Lord by Karen Hawkins
Why I read this: The back cover blurb looked good.

Shy, quiet Regency miss, Fiona MacLean, must save her brothers from becoming embroiled in a centuries old feud that could mean the death of them all. All she has to do is commit one, teeny, tiny, barely noticeable . . . crime.

Sinfully handsome Black Jack Kincaid has spent his entire life philandering with other men's willing wives, trying to forget beautiful, wilful Fiona MacLean, so he's shocked when he awakens one day and discovers himself married to that very lass! Will he help her save her brothers and end a centuries old family feud? Can he accept being married to the woman who broke his heart so many years ago? And now that he has her, can he afford to let her go?

On the cover of this book is a quote from Victoria Alexander. It says "Fun, sexy, and delightful"
Normally I do not pay attention got cover quotes, especially since I have seen one or two books have quote from Harriette Klausner on them. All informed readers know that she is a joke, so why publisher would put her name on a book is silly at best.

This time, though, this quote is exactly what it says. This book was Fun, it was sexy, and it was delightful.

Fiona knocks out and kidnaps Jack. She tells the priest that she is with child so that he must marry them.
Fiona got it into her head that the only way to stop the fighting and death between their two families is to combine blood... with a child.

At first, Jack resists the marriage. He didn't want o get married, and he wont let the fact that he is now a husband stop him from doing what he used to do. Like going to gaming hells all hours of the night, and drinking.

Fiona, as feisty as she is, decides to play Jack at his own game, so she also goes to gaming hells and drinks, too.

It was fun to watch these two butt head and compete, while at the same time, fall in love.

How to Abduct a Highland Lord was a cute, fun, fresh read. I give it an A.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn
Why I read this: It's Julia Quinn! There is never a reason not to read her books.

Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine... until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she's not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have...

Let me say it right now I LOVED THIS BOOK! I loved Jack, I loved Grace. I even loved the grumpy Dowager Duchess.

Julia Quinn did a fantastic job of writing characters that were easy to fall in love with. Jack was simply amazing. His sense of humour, his loyalty, everything about him had me wishing that he was mine. Jack is definitely at the top of my list for a favourite hero.

I felt so positive reading this book. It was touching on so many levels. And boy, did it make me giggle time and time again. The dialogue between Jack and Grace, and then Jack and his grandmother is some of the best I have ever read.

She was for sure a miserable old thing, the Dowager, and Jack told her so, right to her face. I loved it.

All through out the book it shows that Jack does not want to be Duke. At first, I didn't understand his reasons, they seemed rather meek to me, then at end, it all came out, and a light bulb went off.
Spoiler...







Jack was afraid that he would ruin the estate becuase of the fact that he cannot read. He was so worried about it, that he tried to deny he was Duke, even after it was proven that he is the rightful heir. That was an emotional scene for. Very well written.

After they are married, Grace tries to help him with his reading but nothing she tried worked. Nowadays, Jack would be diagnoses with dyslexia. Back then, there was no such term, so there was no way for Grace to know the proper way to help him.
End spoiler..







I'm happy I read this. It put a huge smile on my face. I'm eager for the next in the series.

Julia Quinn has put out another A book. The Lost Duke is a page eater for sure :)

When a Lady Misbehaves by Michelle Marcos
Published by St. Martine's
Why I read this: I was in the mood for a historical that didn't have a proper lady or noble as the Heroine.

As a maid at The Pleasure Emporium, Miss April Jardine has witnessed her share of sinful acts, but nothing as brazen as her own money-making scheme. By blackmailing the gentlemen named in the Madame’s private diaries, April can escape a life of drudgery—as long as she avoids the hangman’s noose. All goes swimmingly until she crosses paths with Lord Blackheath, the most powerful judge in England. His wicked gaze suggests he is torn between exposing April and seducing her—and April is only too pleased to oblige.

This Heroine is one of the worst I have ever read. I can't stand her. She is selfish, rude and every time we were in her POV I could not wait to get out of it.

Having said that, the story is very interesting with a few twists I was not expecting. It was not at all predictable, and that, I enjoyed very much.

April is a maid in a whore house. When the madam tells her that she must sell her body like all the other girls or leave, she decides that she is too good to sell her body and runs off. But not before she steals the madams diary. In the diary are all the men that the madam was with when she was a courtesan, over 20 years ago. The diary also says that the madam had a baby. April gets it into her head that she can go to these men pretending to be the madams daughter. She tells the men that they are her father and that she wants to live with them, now that her mother has died.
Of course the men what nothing to do with her, and pay her off so that she will go away. Because she doesn't actually come right out and ask for money, she doesn't consider her self to be a blackmailer.

The last man she tries this with turns out to be someone who is still in love with the madam and asks April to stay on with him. She falls in love with the idea of being accepted and treated like a daughter. She is happy for a few days, but then her plan all goes to hell when she if found out. Lies are made up to cover lies. Everyone is now in on it in order protect the reputation of the Duke and his sons.

The story was good. Like, really good. Things kept happening that I didn't expect and I was glued to the pages wanting to find out what would happen next. As much as I hated the heroine, I loved the story.

But, and it's a big but-The flow was all wrong. It's hard to review this book because as much as I liked the story, the execution of it was bad. The writing style was choppy and difficult to follow.I kept getting pulled out of the story becuase of it and that confused me because I wanted to read on, to find out what was happening next, but I had to pause way too many times to say "why did she write it that way?". I don't like being pulled out of my reading for any reason.

When a Lady Misbehaves is a C. If it was a different writer I can see this book as an A, because as much as the Heroine sucked, the Hero was terrific, and the story was very good and entertaining. Ms. Marcos just wasn't able to pull it off as well as someone else could of.

The Bartered Bride by Mary Jo Putney
Published by Ballatine Books
Why I read this: It was one of the 'just in' audio titles at my local library. The cover was pretty :)

Sweeping from the exotic temptations of the Orient to the ruthless grandeur of 19th century London, The Bartered Bride is a compelling romantic adventure that begins with a daring act of courage. After building a fortune amid the splendor and dangers of the China seas, American adventurer and merchant prince Gavin Elliott is sailing for London, where he intends to establish himself in the society that forced his family to leave in disgrace when Gavin was only a child. But fate intervenes on an infamous island in the East Indies when he tries to save a European woman being sold at a slave auction.

Alexandra Warren ventures to Australia as a young bride eager for adventure. A dozen years later she is returning home as widow and mother when a pirate attack separates her from her beloved daughter and condemns Alex to a life of servitude. Then a miracle arrives in the form of a steely-eyed Yankee captain willing to risk everything to set her free.

A shocking turn of events brings an unexpected alliance with her rescuer, and Gavin and Alex arrive in London as intimate strangers joined by too many painful secrets. Yet attraction and affection soon overcome the trial of their first meeting. Until the past reaches out to change Gavin's life—and threatens the passionate love he has found with his irresistible bartered bride.

This is a book that that I hope all my blogging buddies will read. Then I want us all to lobby for it to be made into a movie. It was that good.

Alexandra and her are daughter are kidnapped by pirates, seperated from one another, then sold into slavery. For 6 months Alex lives as a slave with no rights or opinion, and bounces from one owner to another. She has no idea where her daughter is, or if the girl is alive.

Gavin in a merchant ship captain. He arrives in the Indies and comes across a woman in a slave market. Gavin tries to buy her freedom, but it's forbidden by the Sultan.
Instead, Gavin embarks on a 'game' with the Sultan. If he should win, he gets to leave with Alex. If he does not win, then Alex is still a slave, and Gavin must dedicate 10 years of service to the Sultan.

The game that he plays is just the first exciting part of this book. It was very interesting, and I'm sure, a game that was played in truth during that time in history.

It involved tossing special dice, and completing a task according to the image that lands up. They were not easy feats that Gavin had to accomplish, but he did them nonetheless, and is able to leave with Alex.

In order to save her reputation, because Alex had become pregnant by one of her slavers, Gavin weds her. It was something that both of them did not want to do at first, but Gavin, who has a deep respect for women did not want Alex being shamed for returning home pregnant and unwed, so he insisted on the marriage.

Something I liked so much about this book is that nothing was rushed. Alex clearly had fears and reservations about entering into a sexual relationship with her husband, yet Gavin was so very patient. An ideal Hero in every sense of the word.

Several weeks after returning home, Alex is kidnapped and Gavin is sentenced to hang for her murder. It's an exciting, yet heartbreaking time. The suspense was killing me! I knew that Alex would get free in time to stop the execution, but as the story went along I was on the edge of my seat, I had doubts.

There is nothing bad I have to say about The Bartered Bride. Its an A+, and nothing less.
Both Alex and Gavin were amazing characters who I easily became attached to. There was not a single slow moment or plot problem that had me annoyed or scratching my head. The story was fast paced, but still slow enough to get all the right emotions across.

My goal is to seek out the authors entire back list and get busy reading. I hope they are all this good!

Mine and Ames' review of The Prize by Julie Garwood is live at Breezing Through.
Ames thinks that I am weird because it was my first Garwood book.
Head on over and help me decide on the next Garwood book to read.

The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E Woodiwiss
Published by Avon books
Why I read this: I heard so much about it being one of the best historicals ever.

The Flower

Doomed to a life of unending toil, Heather Simmons fears for her innocence €”until a shocking, desperate act forces her to flee. . . and to seek refuge in the arms of a virile and dangerous stranger.

The Flame

A lusty adventurer married to the sea, Captain Brandon Birmingham courts scorn and peril when he abducts the beautiful fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. But no power on Earth can compel him to relinquish his exquisite prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed lovely his woman. . . and to carry her off to far, uncharted realms of sensuous, passionate love.

This was supposed to be the ground breaking historical of it's time? Why? What is so great about it?

Aside from the fact that the so called hero rapes the heroine--yah, I get that rape was common back then. That's still not an excuse to have the HERO rape the heroine in a *romance*. If it was that common then all historicals would have a rapist hero. And since I'm on the topic, I have heard people say that most historicals from the 70's or early 80's had a rapist Hero. Uh no! I have read tons of historicals written back then, and the rapes by hero are far and few between. In fact, I can only count 3.. This one being number 4.

Not sure why or how Heather fell in love with Brandon. He wasn't kind to her. He was only nice to her after she almost died from fever, and then again at the end when he told her he loved her.

Heather hated and feared Brandon, then as soon as he is forced into marrying her, she is all of sudden getting these warm fuzzies. Weird. I don't understand it. What did she see in him?

It bothers me that the rape scenes were a page long, and then when they finally have consensual sex, it lasted less than a paragraph in length.

I felt no connection to either of the main characters, and the only one in the book I have any interest in at all is Brandon's brother.

The classic, oh so popular, The Flame and the Flower, gets a D from me. There is nothing I liked about this book. I'm even trying to forget about the rape and thinking how I would feel if it had not been in the book...yup, still don't like it.

Highlander Untamed by Monica McCarty

Published by Ballantine Books

Why I read this: I bought it because I liked the cover, but it sat in my TBR pile for months. I didn't decide to read it till I started seeing the positive reviews from bloggers I like.

She has a year to make him love her… Isabel MacDonald agrees to a handfast marriage with Rory MacLeod, her clan’s bitterest enemy in order to end a deadly feud. But the handfast is only a cover to gain her access to his castle—and with a little seduction, his heart. But her treacherous plans are immediately tested by the fearsome Rory, a powerful Highland chief who embodies everything she admires. Soon Isabel has found the place in the family she’s always dreamed of with the man she must betray, and her only hope of happiness is to escape her own dangerous web of lies.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer…
Rory’s duty as Chief of Clan MacLeod is clear: He’ll obey the king’s directive to handfast with the MacDonald lass—but under his own terms. As a handfast is only required for a year, at that point Rory plans to return this unwanted handfast bride to her family and forge a different marriage alliance. But his plan to keep his distance from his unwanted bride is challenged by the beautiful seductive siren who proves impossible to ignore. And when he catches her snooping and removes her to his bed to watch over her, Rory finds himself wishing that the year would never end.

Isabel and mighty Highland chief/warrior enter into a handfast (informal marriage) at the command from the king. A feud has been going on between their clans for two years, and this is a way to stop the blood shed, at least for a while.

Rory goes into the handfast with all intentions of having it last no longer than the 12 months they agreed upon. He also intends not to bed his lovely new bride.

Isabel is not excited about the handfast, but she is doing it for her family. She is supposed to make Rory fall in love with her so that he will tell her secrets, giving her clan the chance to defeat his.

Even though Isabel entered into the handfast with plans to betray him, she soon fell in love with him and his family. When she gets pressure from her uncle to betray Rory she has to decide between the man she loves and her family, who without her help will be left without protection and surely by a rival clan.

Highlander untamed is a B+ for me. It was almost an A but I noticed a few inconsistencies during the first few chapters. They were big enough to give me pause and check back a few pages, but not so big that it made a difference in the story, or even big enough for me to remember the particulars of them as I write this review.

Rory is an incredible hero. There is something about a mighty highlander falling in love that makes my knees weak. I also liked this book because it made me cry. There is a scene between Rory and Isabel that was so emotional that I had to wipe the tears from my cheeks. I felt for Isabel, I felt for Rory.

Fantastic start of a series. I can't wait to read the next book.

Naughty Paris by Jina Bacarr
Published by Spice
Why I read this: It's a time travel book, and I like those.

After being jilted by her fiancé, Autumn Maguire uses her nonrefundable honeymoon tickets to explore Paris on her own. Eager to experience the true bohemian lifestyle, she answers an ad for an artist's model. When she exchanges her clothes for the artist's lush red cloak, something strange happens…a feeling of intense sensual reawakening overcomes her. Suddenly lightning strikes and through the power of black magic she's thrust back into…
…the nineteenth century where the scandalous painter Paul Borquet is insisting she become his Titian-haired muse. Between everyone's strange clothing, the claustrophobic Parisian streets and the overpowering pull of sexual desire, Autumn can't process…just where the heck is she and how did she get here? And frankly, with Paul's expert caresses imprinted on her body, does she really care about going back to present day?

There was a lot going on in Naughty Paris. It was fast paced, and so full of twists and turns that I got a bit dizzy reading it.

Autumn is sent back to 1889 after...pleasuring herself....in front of the self portrait of a semi-famous painter. She is holding on to a magical statue that grants her extreme beauty and youth. Before she knows it, she is facing the man from the painting in the flesh. She is pleasantly surprised to see that she is so beautiful. Her skin, hair, face, everything is so wonderful, just perfect. The best thing, according to her, is that she looks young. Like an 18-20 year old version of herself.
There is a catch though-If she falls in love she will lose her new beauty and become what she once was. A 35 year year old with a bit of a tummy and winkles (Oh, the horror!)

Paul is with her, he can't keep his eyes and hands off her. He isn't able to keep them out of her either. While painting her portrait he thinks it needs a little something and boy does he figure out what that something is. (please highlight the following text with your mouse for a spoiler) Paul gets her hot and horny, then uses a clay pot to collect her "honey juices". He then mixes her honey juice into the paint and continues on with his painting of her her.

Autumn gets into tons of trouble while in Paris. Since she is so beautiful and so perfect everyone wants her. For some reason, a beautiful woman can't walk down the street in Paris without everyone thinking that she is a prostitute.

It's illegal to be an unregistered prostitute in old Paris, so Autumn is thrown into a nasty prison where she has her first lesbian encounter.

Thats not all though. A jealous prostitute named Lillian is trying to kill her because she thinks Autumn stole Paul away from her. At first Lillian only wanted to cut up Autumn's face to make her ugly, but then Autumn went and insulted her...by calling her the whore that she is. So Lillian is double pissed and wants to maim AND kill her.

Oh, poor Autumn. It's such a chore being so perfectly gorgeous.

The only thing that can get Autumn's spirit up is to think about Paul. How great he is in bed, how sexy he makes her feel. She fantasises about all the yummy sexual thinks he would once again do with her when she gets out of prison.

She gets out eventually, but there is no rest for someone so beautiful. When she isn't trying to avoid pervert doctors, and both men & woman who want to get up her skirts, she is being kidnapped and forced to be the virgin sacrifice during a black mass of devil worship.

It sure is hard to being a beautiful virgin prostitute in old Paris.
I struggled with this review, as I am not sure how I feel about the book. I think I'll settle on a C/C+. As weird at the book was at times..pretty much every secondary character had the chance to finger the heroine or fondle her breasts. It was also a page turner. Plus, I loved the end. There was even a pretty neat twist with Paul. The most imporant thing for me when I read is the love. Naughty Paris has a romantic ending with a couple who love each other deeply.

I also thought is was great that Autumn didn't go on worrying about how Paul will react once he sees her as her true self. A big pet peeve of mine is when they worry so much. Example: an older heroine mentioning age difference over and over again, making it the main focus of the story. That did not happen here. Sure, Autumn mentioned that she wondered what Paul would say once he saw her as a 35 year old, but it was a subtle thought that did not pull me from the story

It was a rocky road for this couple and I wasn't so sure they would be able to be together. I wondered how the author would pull it off, as they had so many obstacles in front of them. It all worked out very nicely though.

Caine's Reckoning by Sarah McCarty
Published by Spice

Why I read this: It got tons of great reviews from other bloggers, and I liked Promises Linger so I didn't hesitate on buying this.

Caine Allen is a hardened Texas Ranger, definitely not the marrying kind. But when he rescues a kidnapped woman and returns her to town, the preacher calls in a favor. One Caine's honor won't let him refuse. From the moment he beds Desi, Caine knows turmoil will follow. Desi might have the face of a temptress, but she also has a will of iron and while she needs his protection, she's determined that no man will control her again. They establish an uneasy bond,
but it still isn't enough for Caine. He wants all Desi has to offer. He wants her screams, her moans, her demands everything. Yet there's still a bounty on Desi's head and keeping her satisfied is proving easier than keeping her alive.

I'll start off by saying that this was supposed to be a joint review between me and another blogger. She has decided that after a week of reading and not being able to get past page 110, she is putting the book down. I wont out her, but it sucks that I have to take all the heat alone for this one. ;-P

In Caine's Reckoning, Desi has had a hard life. Her family was killed, then she and her sister were kidnapped and raped by Indians, then she was 'rescued' by men who chained her to a bed and used her as their own personal sex slave.

Desi, along with a few other towns women were kidnapped by outlaws. Caine and a few of his Hells Eight buddies are Rangers who were sent to find and bring home the women.

This is a book that I was very excited for, but unfortunately I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I was confused as to why it was so easy for her to have sex with Caine that first time in the tub. It was so difficult afterwards that they spent more time talking about it doing it, rather than actually doing it. I get that Desi had a lot of stuff going on in her head and she needed a bit of help in dealing with it. However, for me, it didn't work. They went from one easy peasy bout of sex(in the tub) to several that where difficult to understand and read, then the last one just magically happened naturally. I'm glad that Desi was finally able to just do it, but I missed where she was 'fixed'.

**Spoilers below*** Find out the problems I had while reading.

There is a part where another member of Hell's Eight was supposed to be protecting Desi while Caine was away. He is this big bad dude who is the best at protecting. However, there was no explanation about where he was when Desi was kidnapped. Before the bad guy got her, Desi kept looking for Shadow, but he didn't appear. Right until the very last page of the book I kept waiting for an explanation about that, but it never came.

I kinda felt like there was a scene missing...I wanted to read about when Caine finds out about Desi's abduction off of Hell's Eight land. It went from her being grabbed, to Caine and his boys on their way to rescue her. I also want to know how Desi got abducted with the other women in the first place. She was confined to a bedroom. Shackled and naked. It's not like she was out for a stroll and they grabbed her that way. She even has a scar on her leg that she got while trying to escape from those men who locked her up that way.

***End of spoilers***

I did like how Caine was so determined to keep and protect Desi. How much he wanted to hurt the men who hurt her was right up my ally. I love a man like that. Desi-meh. I don't have much of an opinion of her. I think the problem is that I didn't connect with her in any way.

The epilogue was very good. Desi writes a letter to her sister because the Hells Eight men have promised to find Ari and bring her home. I think the letter did a great job of setting up the next book.

Caine's Reckoning is a C- for me. Basically because I liked Caine. I could see in my head the way he walked, hear his voice, picture him on his horse, etc. He was also kind and gentle, but still tough and manly.

A highlander for Christmas by Sandy Blair

Published by Zebra

Why I read this: I was in the mood for a holiday historical, and this is the only one I could find. I'll let it be known that even though the book spine says that the book is a historical romance, it is not. All parts, minus the prologue take place in our modern time.

‘Tis the season to be jolly—but Boston antiques dealer Claire MacGregor isn’t looking forward to a solo Christmas, or cocoa for one, or trimming the tree by herself. But company’s coming. Claire is fooling around with an old puzzle box and when it opens...a gorgeous, studly laird appears. Thumbs down: Sir Cameron MacLeod is centuries old. Thumbs up: he doesn’t look it. And Cameron is tall, dark, and lusty—very lusty.
Who is this lovely lass? And where is he? Before awakening in the 21st century in Claire’s bedroom, the last thing Sir Cameron MacLeod remembers was readying for war with a rival clan. Despite her strange clothes and odd ways, Claire is bonny and brave. He’s about to find out that love is a many-splendored thing indeed...

If I can have anything I want for Christmas, then I want the Hero of this book under the tree for me. A highlander for Christmas is about a Highlander who is frozen in time (not frozen, as in a block of ice, but more like suspended in time) he is accidentally freed by Claire. She is a sassy woman of our time, and she promises Cam that she will help him find a way to get him back to his own time.

Cam stays with Claire and he spends a whole lot of time getting into a whole lot of trouble. Cam, bless his sexy heart, is rather chauvinistic in a romantic way. He is aware that Claire is supporting him in every way. She is providing a roof over his head, she is feeding him, clothing him and he even though he appreciates her help, he is a manly man who comes from a time where the man is the one who is the sole protector and provider. He has a very hard time accepting that he can't take care of Claire properly, and when he tries to do things like hunt...at the zoo..in order to bring home food for her, it gets him into trouble with the law. So, once again Claire has to run to his rescue.

Cam is also dealing with the fact that in our time we have history books, and once he finds out exactly what happened to his family and village during time of war, he is deeply wounded and mourns the murder of his clan.

My only complaint about this book is the amount of times Cam said 'Ack' or 'hmph'. I'm aware that it's all a part of his personality, but I felt it was used too many times. It got to be distracting and I had feelings of negativity because of it.

I give A highlander for Christmas a B+ for being such a good romantic holiday read. I adore Cam's dedication to Claire, I had a good laugh at all of his antics and trying to figure out how things work in this era. Cam and Claire didn't just fall into bed together and then get married. The relationship grew at an acceptable pace and they had to not only work though Cam being a time traveling highlander, but they also had normal every day relationship problems that were dealt with properly.

*Sigh* I really want my very own Cam.

The perfect bride by Brenda Joyce (book 7 in the de Warenne dynasty)

Published by HQN

Why I read this: The De Warenne dynasty is one of my favourite historical series on the market.

A childhood trauma has left Lady Blanche Harrington incapable of all emotion, least of all love. Now circumstance demands she marry, and Blanche dreads choosing from her horde of fawning suitors. For one very eligible gentleman has not stepped forward . . . A war hero and a recluse, Rex de Warenne has long admired Lady Blanche. Though fate and his own dark nature have robbed him of any hope for the kind of future such a lady deserves, Rex is determined to aid her -- and keep his feelings to himself. But when their growing friendship leads to a night of shocking passion, Blanche's newfound memories threaten their fragile love . . . and Blanche's very life.

In this seventh de Warenne dynasty book, Sir Rex de Warenne is in his castle banging the maid when in walks Lady Blanche. Blanche was the gal who was engaged to Tyrell de Warenne in The Masquerade.

Blanche and Rex have been friends for years. When she visits him at his home with her maid she stays on longer than planned and their friendship grows. They each have major faults and accept each other how they are. They both also have secrets and even though Rex has shared his secret with Blanche, she takes a long time in sharing hers with him. If this book had taken place in our time Blanche's diagnoses would have been post traumatic stress disorder & panic attacks. However, in 1822 any type of mental illness was hidden and considered something to be ashamed of.

The harder in love Blanche falls for Rex, the more intense her panic attacks become. The morning after she and Rex become betrothed she has one of her biggest ones and she takes off out fear, thinking that her happiness with Rex is the cause of her 'episodes'.

Rex eventually sees her in the middle of an attack and recognizes it as the same thing that happened to him when he came home from the war. He is very sweet and gentle with her and helps her through them, promising that she will get better.

The perfect bride plot was very good. I think the physiological angle was very well written and accurate according the era. However, I'm afraid that the change in writing style that was introduced in the last Brenda Joyce I read has flowed on over into this one.

Even though it wasn't as bad as it was in Dark Seduction, both the Hero and Heroine of this book 'cried' a lot, plus the Hero murmured very often. There was also an over abundance of the Hero 'flushing'. I can handle a Heroine who blushes, but a big strapping war hero doing it so often kinda turns me off.

I'd love to just forget about all that, but it really took away from the story for me and made it hard to enjoy a book that I have been looking forward to reading. Because of that, this is my least favourite de Warenne dynasty novel. C.

Secrets of a summer night by Lisa Kleypas (Wallflower book 1)

Published by Avon

Why I read this: This is the first book in a series that Ames had reviewed. They all sound really good, so I wanted to read them.

Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle's most intriguing -- and persistent -- admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistible pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition ... but it is impossible in the face of such skillful seduction. Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entice a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon -- and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon's passionate embrace and tempting kisses ... and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.

Annabelle and her three news friends are sick of being Wallflowers. They hatch a plan to help each other snag husbands. Since Annabelle is the eldest they decided that she should be the first of them to marry. Together the girls decides on a young Lord Kendall to be Annabelles husband.

Simon Hunt, a rich merchants son has had his eye on Annabelle for the last two years. He attends a house party that she is at, and proceeds to bump into her everywhere she goes. He does not want Annabelle to marry Kendall.

I love Simon. He is so arrogant and alpha. He wants Annabelle, and he will stop at nothing to have her. Just read some of the things that had me swooning...

"Every time I see you," he murmured, "I think you couldn't possibly become anymore beautiful-and you always prove me wrong."

That was their wedding night. After things get underway Annabelle starts to panic a bit and Simon is so sweet about it...

She let him do as he wished, quivering as she felt the prickle of his night beard contrasting with the silky wet heat of his mouth. But when he reached her navel, and she felt the slick point of his tongue enter the little hollow, she rolled away from him with a shocked inhalation. "No...Simon...I...Please..."
Immidietely he levered upwards and gathered her in his arms, smiling into her scarlet face. "Too much?" he asked huskily. "I'm sorry-for a moment I forgot that it's new to you. Here let me hold you. You're not frightened are you?"

This part made me giggle during their loving...

Holding himself deep inside her, he groaned, while a shiver ran across his shoulders.
"You're so tight," he said hoarsely.
"I-I'm sorry-"
"No no," he managed. "Don't be sorry. My God."
His voice was slurred, as if he was drink on pleasure.

This next quote takes place while Simon is telling Annabelle all the things that he likes about her. She mentioned that his best friend does not care for her, and he says...

"Now that you're my wife, Westcliff knows better than to ever utter another word of objection to you or the marriage, if he did I would end the friendship without a second thought."
"Oh, but I would never want that, I...." She looked at him in sudden bemusement. "You would do that for me?"
Simon traced a vein of golden hair that ran through the honey gold locks.
"There is nothing I wouldn't do for you."

All together now, Awwwwww. How can you not love a man who would dump his best friend for you?

My favourite part of the book is the end when Annabelle helps to save Simon's life. The talk they had afterward was so emotional and romantic that it had me in tears.

Any book that makes me cry AND has a Hero as yummy as Simon is a B+ from me.

The highlander's bride by Michele Sinclair

Published by Zebra

Highland laird Conor McTiernay had always dreamed of an enduring love. But the reality of women who desired him only for his title and lands made him swear off marriage forever. That is until he first set eyes on the Englishwoman his men found hiding in the forest. Beneath the dirt and grime it was clear Laurel Cordell was beautiful. But would she prove to be yet another beguiling seductress or had Conor finally found the one woman who could lay claim to his heart?
Laurel trusted that the Scottish chieftain would keep her safe from the cruel laird from whom she had escaped. Looking deep into Conor's silver eyes she saw only his calculating warrior ways but his quick arousal to passion. But before they can explore the growing desire between them, their newfound love is threatened by secrets from her past …

Conor McTiernay is the laird of his clan . While him and his many brothers are on their way home from the wedding of one brother, they find a girl hidden in the trees. She is dirty, covered in bruises and her dress is torn up.

She begs Conor for help, and he swears to protect her. His brothers and clansmen are immediately smitten with the English Lady Laurel, and do what they can to keep her comfortable while they travel back to the castle.

Even though Conor has sworn off marriage, he falls in love with Laurel. She loves him just as much but because they have very different personalities and ways of doing things, she does not think that a relationship with him will work. Besides, she cannot stay with him for too long. The reason she was hiding in the trees is because she escaped from a mean laird and his son who kidnapped her. They will come after her, and she does not want to put Conor or his clan in danger.

What I liked best about Conor and Laurel is that they are similar to real life couples. They fight hard and love hard. They go through all the 'couple stages' that seems to be lost in many romance books. Conor and Laurel fight, they say hurtful things to each other, they annoy each other. They also love each other deeply. They apologize, they make up for their attitudes, and they come up compromises. They are both very stubborn and set in their ways, so for them to admit when they were wrong was a big deal.

One of my very favourite lines in the book is this,

"The woman of his dreams had married him today. Several times he felt himself growing overcome with emotion. In such a short time, she had become the most important thing in his life. These past few weeks, they had proven that they could depend on, listen to, and support each other for the rest of their lives."

I enjoyed The highlanders bride very much. A B+ from me.

The love story was believable and had my favourite kind of happily ever after. I enjoyed Laurel and Conor as a couple. Everything about them was honest and true.

I will admit that the story started off slow for me, but I think it has to do with the way the story opened. It was mid dialogue, and that is not something I enjoy.

After checking out the authors website I am pleased to see that there is another McTiernay brother book on the way. Actually, there are many on the way! It looks as if each of the brothers is getting his own story. I am happy about that and I can't wait to read the rest of the books.

Annabelle's Courtship by Lucy Monroe
Published by Samhain

Ian MacKay, Laird of Graenfrae, has no use for love or marriage. However, his stepfather's will mandates that marriage is what he must have...to an Englishwoman.
A sensible man, Ian develops a list of requirements in a wife: Plain, moderately dowered, older and practical. He thinks he has found the
perfect candidate in Lady Annabelle. Labeled The Ordinary her first season, Annabelle longs for a man who will see her as beautiful and love her as her father loved her mother. When she meets Ian, she thinks she has at last found that man. Until his proposal, in which he has the audacity to list his "requirements."
She refuses his proposal. He informs her that she will marry him at the end of the season. The battle of wills is on.

Ian is a Scottish Laird who is in great need of funds. His tenants homes are falling apart and several farming items need to be purchased/repaired in order to keep everyone happy and healthy. His step fathers will states that the only way Ian can get his inheritance is if he marries an English woman. Ian was once betrayed by a beautiful rich woman and it turned him off the idea of marriage. Once he understands that he has no other choice, he puts together a list of requirements. His new wife must be Plaine, Modestly dowered, Older and Practical.

Ian arrives in England for the start if the Season and after asking around he decides that Annabelle is the perfect woman to marry. Belle is attracted to Ian, and she is flattered that he is paying attention to her. Unfortunately, Ian believes is honestly, so he tells Belle flat out that he wants to marry her, and he tells her why.

"Your looks are not too grand and you are well past the age for marrying. You do not wear expensive jewels or gowns, which bodes well for future demands on my purse."

Even though she likes him, Belle does not take his proposal well. She tells him off.

"I am not interested in marriage. If I were, it would not be to an arrogant Scotsman who believes my lack of face and fortune make me willing to marry on such short acquaintance.'

Ian is arrogant, and doesn't understand why Belle doesn't fall at his feet. He keeps on trying to get her to marry him, and the more she flings the proposal back into his face, the more he wants her.

I like Ian, I really do. He starts off like such a typical conceited man who is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it. He is all about honesty, but he doesn't seem to realise that his words are hurtful. Even though Ian comes off as an ass some of the time you wind up laughing, because Belle does not let him get away with it.

"Do you really think I wish to dance with you after your insult?"
"'Twas not an insult, lass. 'Twas a proposal."
"My name is not 'lass'. Is it Lady Annabelle, as Ceddy told you on these
many days past. Are you hard of hearing? Perhaps you need an ear trumpet."

See? It's hard to stay mad at Ian, when it's clear that Annabelle can take such good care of herself.

Laird Ian does figure out that his words are hurting Belle, and he tries to make it up to her. He agrees to court her and he is very sweet. He is protective and amazingly romantic.

Right after Belle finally agrees to marry him they get all touchy feely. Ian stops before it goes to far and Belle asks if they could keep on going. She wants to know why they must wait before they make love. She also reminds him that they have done other things, so is it not the same thing? Instead of giving the stock answer of 'I must know my heir is really mine."

He says,

"What we did was share pleasure, but when we make love we will join our bodies, We will become one. It is not the same. It is more and it is for marriage."

How romantic.

Yes, Ian started off insensitive to Belle's feelings, but he quickly changed his tune.

There is a villain in Annabelle's Courtship. A man who needs money, wants to marry Belle and then do away with her after he gets an heir from her. Belle is put in danger a few times, and Ian never fails to rescue her. I love a Hero who beats up on the person who threatens his love, and Ian didn't disappoint me.

We have a Heroine who wont let a man talk down to her and is far from being a wimpy simpering Miss. A Hero who did well in redeeming his early behaviour. Several moments where I giggled at what Belle said or thought, and of course, a romantic love story. This is what all historicals should be like. An A from me.