Lord of scoundrels by Loretta Chase
Published by Avon
Grade: A

Tough-minded Jessica Trent's sole intention is to free her nitwit brother from the destructive influence of Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain. She never expects to desire the arrogant, amoral cad. And when Dain’s reciprocal passion places them in a scandalously compromising, and public, position, Jessica is left with no choice but to seek satisfaction...Damn the minx for tempting him, kissing him...and then forcing him to salvage her reputation! Lord Dain can't wait to put the infuriating bluestocking in her place -- and in some amorous position. And if this means marriage, so be it! --
though Sebastian is less than certain he can continue to remain aloof...and
steel his heart to the sensuous, headstrong lady's considerable charms .

The gals at Book Binge bullied me into reading this. ;-) I had borrowed it out of the library twice, but brought it back unread each time. I hated Lord Perfect so much, that there was no way this one could be any better.
My library only had the one copy of it, and by the time I was ready to read it the last person who had it had lost it. Damn.
So, I bought it in ebook. I'm happy that I did. It was as good as everyone promised.

Dain and Jess have a love/hate relationship. They love to pretend to hate each other. Jess has a rather stupid brother who thinks that Dain is Gods gift to the world. He wants to be just like Dain, so he does all the things that Dain does in order to be 'cool' like him. Jess's brother isn't too bright, and everything he does just makes him look bad, or gets him into trouble. When his bad gambling starts to put him in the poor house, Tess wants him to stop hanging around Dain.

Tess buys an icon of The Madonna not knowing that it's worth a lot more than what she paid for. When Dain finds out how much the icon is worth, he tries to buy it from her. Jess says that as long as he agrees to leave her brother alone, then she will simply give him the icon.

Dain doesn't like being told what to do, so he makes it a point to drive Jess's brother even deeper than he already is.

Even though Dain is a Lord, he never dallies with a Lady. He sleeps with trollops and pretends they are respectful for as long as it takes to rut with them, but thats as far as it goes. Dain didn't have a childhood filled with love and acceptance, so now as an adult, he doesn't feel that he belongs or is worthy to receive it. When he finds that he is more than just attracted to Jess, it puts him in a bitter mood.

There is plenty of reluctant flirting on the part of Dain, and Jess is such a witty little thing, that she doesn't just blush and bat her eyes at him. I really enjoyed the dialogue between the pair.

At a ball Dain is caught by some gossips with his hands up Jess's skirt. He thinks that she set him up so that they would be forced to wed. Dain decides to put her in her place by pretty much calling her a whore in front of everyone and then stalking off.

They do eventually get married. After Jess paid him back by shooting him. That has got to be my favourite scene in the book.

Loretta Chase wrote an excellent back story for Dain in the beginning of the book. Even though he isn't your typical handsome Hero, I found myself falling for him as fast as Jessica did. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and give him a big hug.

Awesome book! No doubt that I will re read it again and again.

The rest falls away by Colleen Gleason

Published by Signet

Grade: DNF

In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy of vampire slaying, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake. But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous, moonlit streets, Victoria's heart is torn between London's most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her enigmatic ally, Sebastian Vioget. And when she comes face to face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make the choice between duty and love.

When I first picked this up I had a few other books on the go, so I thought that my disinterest had to do with that. I stopped my other reads in order to give this one my full attention. I'm a believer in that if a book is well written, then I should not have to put everything else on hold to appreciate it. However, since everyone else loved this book, I thought I should keep on reading.

I can't do it anymore. I don't know if it's the use of 'whilst' & 'betwixt'. Although, proper back then. Those words are rarely used in historicals these days. I find them archaic.

Or, if it's the fact that all the Vampires in the book are the bad guys. I enjoy Vampires, and I hate knowing that every one is a villain. Can't say that I didn't know that about the book though. I just didn't think that it would bother me.

I did like how each chapter was named. I like that better than just the numbers. Plus the chapter name gives you a little hint about what was going to happen. A number of them had me laughing.

The rest falls away does not hold my attention. I made it page 165, and it's safe to say that I found it boring.
It's not that I hate it, like I do with every other DNF. This just isn't for me. Not my cup of tea. Not my style. It doesn't float my boat. Etc.

When I bought The rest falls away, I also bought Rises the night at the same time. Since I can't get through this one, I wont bother to start the next. I hope I can get something for them on Ebay. I can't find my receipt, so at $9.99 each, I lost out on $20. Damn.

Beware a Scot's Revenge by Sabrina Jeffries
Published by Pocket
Grade: B-

Lady Venetia Campbell's visit to her childhood home in Scotland takes a dramatic turn when she's kidnapped at pistol point by her father's sworn enemy. Sir Lachlan Ross is widely feared in his guise as The Scottish Scourge, but Venetia remembers her former neighbor as a handsome youth whose attentions she craved. Now a wickedly sexy man, Lachlan's appeal is even more intoxicating...and much more dangerous. Though Lachlan tries to treat her as his foe, his scorching kisses tell another story. And despite his plan to use her as a weapon against her father, Venetia is determined that Lachlan's lust for revenge will be trumped by an even more powerful desire...

It took me almost the entire length of the book to get used to the Heroine's name. I don't like it at all.

Venetia takes a trip back home to Scotland. She goes and gets herself kidnapped by her childhood friend. Lachlan has plans to hold Venetia for ransom, because Venetia's father owed his family a lot of money.

Poor Lachlan thinks that he is kidnapping a proper young miss. Haha. 'Little' Venetia has a mouth on her, and I enjoyed the back and forth banter between the two.

I did find that Lachlan tended to go in and out of his Scottish ancient, so that was weird. It didn't bother me too much, because as much as I love a highlander, the accents always throw me off.
Lachlan's wasn't too bad.

Beware a Scot's Revenge is part of the School for Heiresses series. You can read my review of the first book of the series here.

Essex sister series, by Eloisa James

Published by Avon,

Grade: B if read together. C if you don't them all.

I finally got to finish all 4 books. Written by one of the best Historical authors of our time, Eloisa James.
Orphaned sister are left in the care of the Duke of Halbrook. A rich, but kind man who is addicted to the drink. The sisters are poor and have little when it comes to a dowry.

Much ado about you (Dec 2004)
When Tess realizes that their new guardian doesn't know what to do with 4 sisters (age 15-22) she decides that they should marry. The Duke knows nothing of these things, so she takes charge. As the oldest, she will marry first. She becomes engaged to one man, while wanting another. This Story for Tess and Lucien is really funny. I love how he finally got her to walk down the isle with him.

Kiss me, Annabel (Dec 2005)
Annabel has a short list of what she wants in a husband. He must be rich and English. When a Scottish Earl asks her to marry him, more than once, she says no. She is under the impression that he is poor, and she makes it clear that she does not want a poor man. When the Earl and Annabel are caught together in a compromising position, they are forced to marry. Annabel is upset because she does not want to marry anyone Scottish or poor, but she knows she has no choice. I enjoyed watching these two fall in love. What a nice surprise it was for Annabel to find out that her intended is not the poor Earl she thought him to be. He is rich. Filthy rich.

The taming of the duke (March 2006)
This is the story for Imogen. In book one she eloped, only to have her husband die 14 days later. She tried really hard to have a affair, but it never happened. In her story, Imogen forces Rafe (their guardian) to stop drinking. After he has been off of alcohol for a while he starts to see Imogen in a new light and plans to marry her. At first she has a thing for Rafe's brother, Gabe, but in her heart Rafe is the one she truly loves.

Pleasure for pleasure (November 2006)
The youngest Essex sister is on the marriage market, but becuase of a cruel man she has been nicknamed 'the Scottish sausage'. Any male who dances with her is teased by his friends, so she is stuck dancing with friends of the family. The Duke of Mayne helps her become seductive buy making her get rid of her horrible corset, and teaching her how to walk with a sway to her hips. It's a surprising love match, becuase not only is Mayne supposed to be in love with someone else, but Josie has never showed any interest in him before. After Mayne mistakenly thinks that Josie has been ravished he makes her marry him. It's a fitting proposal as none of the Essex sister found love in the usual fashion.

Over all this was a good series. None of the books are any good as a stand alone, though. There are are many sub plots and references to the previous stories, so you have to read all the books (in the proper order or course) for it to make any sence.

I enjoyed these books because not only do they deal with the love and trust the sisters have for one another, but things like addiction, infidelity and womans weight issues are taken seriously.

The courage to Love, by Samantha Kane
Published by Elloras cave
Grade: D+

Back cover reads:

Kate Collier is still recovering from a vicious rape and trying to make a
success of her dress shop when Jason Randal and Anthony Richards return to
London from the Continent, intent on winning her. She's known them for years,
ever since they served with her late husband in the Peninsula against Napoleon.
She'd been in love with them for almost that long. To discover they feel the
same is a shock, but Kate isn't ready to turn her life back over to a man, or
men.

Jason and Tony prove hard to resist, however,
especially when their close friendship blossoms into desire for each other as
they make Kate's body burn with passion. The combination of their insatiable
desire for her and their journey into a sexual relationship with one another is
irresistible to Kate.

A nightmare from her past tries
to keep them apart, but the three long for a life together in spite of society's
censure, and they will not be denied.

This is a Historical set in the 1800's. Kate is a widow who is raising her niece. After the death of her husband she found out that there was very little money to survive. So, Kate did what ladies of propriety did in those days..she became a Mistress. The man she was with would set her up in her own house, and pay all her debts for her.

Meanwhile Tony and Jason have been in and out of town. They are both in love with Kate, but they want to give her some freedom and 'play around' so to speak, before they ask her to marry them.

The guys come back to town this last time and find Kate not at all like herself. She is jumpy, moody and really angry. Reason being that the last man to take Kate on as his Mistress abused her in the worst way. He allowed his friends to rape her and just sat back and watched.
We find out that he only did it to get back at Jason and Tony. He knew that they were in love with her, so he hurt Kate in order to hurt them.

When Jason and Tony find out what happened they are livid, but even more determined to live a life with Kate. She doesn't see how is can be possible. Sse is already a leeper in the eyes of society, so being seen with her will cause them to be outcasts. Besides, how can she marry two men? It's not legal. The guys explain that they love her too much to care what society thinks. And, because Jason is Titled, and he needs an heir, he will be the one Kate marries, but in their hearts she will belong to both of them. She promises to think about it.

Jason fights a duel against the Bastard who hurt Kate, but the guy cheated and shot Jason before the duel officially started. Jason gets really sick because of an infection and almost died. Bastard rapist gets away.

Kate does marry Jason surrounded by friends and family. Jason says the vows, but Tony puts the ring on Kate's finger.

Jason and Tony had a big group of friends who support their 3 way way marriage. Their friends, and even the Vicar who married them all served in the war together, and are haunted by the same war time memories. All the men are very close.

There are a lot of little things that keep me from giving this story a higher grade.

1) Words like 'Gorgeoulicious'. This is supposed to be regency set historical. Some of the words caught me off guard.

2)I have to read second in the series to find out if rapist bastard is caught. He ran away after he shot Jason, and people are out looking for him, but thats it. From the looks of things he strikes again in the second book. Dammit.

3)There were some scenes between Kate's niece and one of Jason & Tony's friends that didn't go anywhere. It looked like they were going to start a relationship, but then the author seemed to forget about them. I like Kate's niece, I'm annoyed that there wasn't more to that part of the story. Either write an ending..good or bad..for them, or don't write anything.

4)Jason's mother. One day she is disowning him because of his lifestyle, then just because he might die she is not only totally accepting of him being bisexual and in a three way relations, she is suggesting the marriage and telling Tony to call her mom.

It did have good sex scenes. That's where the plus in D+ comes from.

A wild pursuit, By Eloisa James
Published by , Avon Feb 2002
Grade: A

Back cover reads: It is whispered behind the fans of London's dowagers and in the corners of fashionable ballrooms that scandal follows willfully wild Lady Beatrix Lennox wherever she goes.
Three years before, the debutante created a sensation by being found in a distinctly compromising position. Now, the ton has branded her as unmarriageable, her family has called her a vixen, and Beatrix sees no reason not to go after what -- and who -- she wishes.
And she wants Stephen Fairfax-Lacy, the handsome Earl of Spade. Beatrix, with her brazen suggestions and irresistibly sensuous allure, couldn't be more different from the earl's ideal future bride. Yet Beatrix brings out a wildness in the earl he has tried to deny far too long. Still, he's not about to play love's game by Lady Beatrix's rules. She may be used to being on top in affairs of the heart, but that will soon change.

This is the 3'rd book in the Duchess Quartet series. I went and read the 4'th book first. You can read my review on the 4'th book here.
A wild pursuit is really the story of three couples. There is a sub plot with Helene and her DH (they are the characters in the fourth book)
Esme and Sebastian play a big part as do Bea and Stephen. Bea and Stephen are the ones on the back over, but I found that they got equal book time with Esme and Sebastian.

Bea has been shunned by the ton because she was caught making out with a man at a party. Over the years she has taken a few lovers, and perfected giving sultry looks to men. Stephen in a politician, but he isn't really happy with his job. He attends a house party given by Esme, and plans to get himself a mistress. He thinks he is too old to get married, but he wants a woman to warm his bed. He meets Helene and starts to flirt with her. Helene who has been estranged from her husband for years wants out of her marriage, but the only way to get a divorce is if she cheats on him. She is attracted to Stephen and with help from Esme and Bea, she flirts with Stephen and invites him to her bed chamber.
Once he gets there, things don't work out, and she admits that she is just trying to make her husband grant her a divorce. Stephen agrees to make it look like they are having an affair so that she can get out of her marriage.

Meanwhile, Esme is nine months pregnant. Her husband died after getting into a fight with Sebastian. Esme and Sebastian are in love. The only thing keeping Esme and her love apart is the fact that Esme is trying to be respectable. She begs Sebastian to go away, and finally he leaves.
The thing about Esme, is that her mother is a real problem. She is mean to the bone. Esme tries so hard to please her and wants her mother to accept her, and she will do anything to make that happen.
When Stephen's mother arrives at the house wanting to know where her son is Esme doesn't know what to do. Sebastian's mom and her mom are good friends and she doesn't want anything bad getting back to her mother, so when Sebastian arrives back at the party she announces to the room that she is engaged to Stephen.

Ah, but it just gets better. Bea and Stephen are falling in love, and Stephen asks Bea to woo him. Thats right. Woo him. She does a great game of seduction, but he wants more.

So now poor Stephen is in a house with his fake mistress, his fake fiancee, and the woman he really wants. He has to pay enough attention to the right woman at the right time to make it look real.
Poor guy.

What I liked: It was pretty funny. I like how you don't *have* to read the books in order. Even though I like too. It was neat seeing Helene and her Dh in this book. You got to learn a little bit more about them. I hope to read the first two in this series. It will be a nice treat if Esme is in them too. I like her.

What I did not like: Can't think of a thing.

Secret Ways, By Kat Martin
Published by Pocket star, April 2003
Grade: A


Back cover reads: Vermillion Lee Durant is well versed in the art of seduction and determined to remain loyal to the destiny she was born to fulfill. But to Captain Caleb Tanner, a British officer hunting a spy who has been leaking information to the French, she may be more that the flirtatious young woman she seems. Assigned to uncover the truth about Vermillion and her aunt, Caleb poses as a groom at the Durant racing stables--and fights an attraction to Vermillion that may cloud his judgment and threaten his heart.

Both captivated and annoyed by the handsome, arrogant groom, Vermillion vows to resist him--knowing she must choose allegiance to her family over the desires Caleb has awakened. But passion and truth cannot always be denied, even for two lovers who are masters at keeping secrets.

Vermillion was raised by her aunt who is a courtesan. The women in her family did not find happiness with marriage so the past several generations of women born in the family have all become courtesans. Lee-as Vermillion likes to be called by her friends, is supposed to choose a protector on her birthday, and has narrowed it down to three men. The problem is that she is not sure she wants to be a courtesan. However, she feels that she owes it to her aunt to become one.

Caleb Tanner is in the British army. He has been stationed at Lee's home undercover as a groom in order to find a spy who has been leaking information to the french. Lee, who is a horse lover spends time with Lee around the horses. Lee and Caleb are attracted to each other and they end up spending the night together a few times. Caleb is called away, and that is when Lee realises that she is in love with him.

Caleb comes back to her, but this time as himself. She is angry that he lied to her, but they work it out and pretty soon she is trying to help him find the spy.

As Lee's birthday draws near she feels the pressure to pick a man and she can't decide what to do. She loves Caleb, but she knows that he will go back on duty very soon, and she can't stand to be apart from him. She doesn't want to pick any of the other men because as nice as they are, they just aren't Caleb. Caleb does ask Lee to pick him, but she is torn because she wants to be more than just his lover.

I really enjoyed reading this. I even skipped giving my baby a bath tonight so that I could finish it. Don't worry, he didn't really need that bath anyway :)

What I liked: Secret Ways had a really good sub plot that kept me interested. Normally I don't like sub plot and I tend to skip over those parts, but this one was pretty good. It involved a woman close to Lee and her aunt. Her husband took on a mistress right after they were married, so after she did her duty of giving him an heir, she stopped sleeping with him, and took as many lovers as he did. Now, all these years later her husband has fallen in love with her and is trying to win her back.

What I did not like: There is nothing that I didn't like. I can't wait to seek out more books from this author!

A Merry Chase, By Victoria Malvey
Publisher-Sonnet Books, 2000
Grade: B-/C

The back cover reads: For Royce Van Cleef, earl of Tewkbury, marriage is a very simple matter. Rather than waste time and effort courting, one must make the intended bride become the pursuer. When his friends scoff, he proposes to put his theory to the test by winning Lady Laurel Simmons. She is beautiful, well-bred, and sharp-tongued -- an exceptional challenge for any man.
But Lady Laurel catches wind of Royce's foul scheme. Annoyed beyond words -- a rare state for her -- she decides to best him at his game. Before the season is over, she vows, Royce will be the one chasing after her. Now enthralled with ploy and counterploy, Royce and Laurel are making and breaking the rules with wild abandon -- until neither can admit the game has become heartbreakingly real...

This was a cute little read, although not very memorable, and I'm sure that in a few days I will have forgotten all about. Thats a pity because the hero is my type of man. An alpha male who stick sup for his heroine (with his fists)

Lady Laurel was engaged to a man who was only using her for her money, and since then she has sworn off men. Royce, the Earl of Tewkbury is a rake who has spend his life chasing skirts, but not a bride. He makes a wager with his friends that he can get a woman to chase him. His friends decide that Laurel should be the prize and prey in the wager. Royce agrees and things are going along smoothly until she is told about the wager and turns the table on him.

It's a cat and mouse game of who is courting who. One day Laurel is winning, the next its Royce. During this game both parties start to have real feelings for each other, but both have thick prides, plus Laurel doesn't completely trust Royce.

During the courtship, there are not one, not two, but three different people who want to tear Royce and Laurel apart. Everything from vandalism to kidnapping is thrown at the couple.

What I liked: Like I said, I enjoyed Royce. I adore a hero who is conceited, confidant and manly. When he uses his fists to defend his girl I pretty much swoon.

What I did not like: I didn't understand Royce's plan. The 'fox hunt' as he called it in order to attract Laurel. The only thing he did that wasn't a normal ton courting was hold his hand out to her rather that ask her to dance. Thats just typical alpha male conceit. Royce prides himself in making her chase him, but it didn't look that way to me. It was just typical courting in my eyes.

Whitney, my love, By Judith McNaught
Publisher-Pocket books, June 2000 (re print)
Grade: B+

Back cover reads: Under the dark, languorous eyes of Clayton Westmoreland, the Duke of Claymore, Whitney Stone grew from a saucy hoyden into a ravishingly sensual woman. Fresh from her triumphs in Paris society, she returned to England to win the heart of Paul, her childhood love...only to be bargained away by her bankrupt father to the handsome, arrogant Duke. Outraged, she defies her new lord. But even as his smoldering passion seduces her into a gathering storm of desire, Whitney cannot -- will not -- relinquish her dream of perfect love.

I give many thanks to Ames and Zeek for suggesting that I read this book. I'm not a fan of 'Classics', and since its written on the front, back and inside of the book how much of a 'classic' this novel is, I had been putting off reading it.

Whitney, who is a less than lady like teenager, is in love with Paul. She goes out of her way to be around him and draw attention to herself. It's never good attention. Her father has had enough, so he send her to live with her aunt and uncle in Paris. While in Paris she blossoms into a beautiful woman, who follows propriety. She has gotten many offers of marriage, but she is holding out for her childhood love back home.

During her years in Paris she becomes good friends with a wealthy man from a good family, who is also the brothers of a friend. Thats Nickie. Nickie courts Whitney, but she is clear that she just wishes to be friends.

Meanwhile, a Duke has been noticing Whitney. He tries to flirt with her but she is pretty curt with him and doesn't at all fall for him smooth talking ways. The Duke of Claymore decides he wants to make Whitney his mistress, so he has her investigated, and finds out that her father is almost in the poorhouse. Then he decides that he wants to make her his wife, so he gives her father one hundred thousand dollars for her hand. As you can imagine, Whitney is not at all pleased about that.

Whitney is torn between her love for Paul, her passion for Clayton, and she also deals with Nickie wanting to marry her all at the same time.

It took everything in my power not to flip to the back pages and see who she ends up with. One minute I was rooting for Nickie, then I wanted her to be with Paul, then I yelled at her to give Clayton a chance. I had a hard as time making up my mind as she did.

There are over 700 pages in this book, and there is a whole lot going on, but it;s no confusing at all. There is never a dull moment, and I didn't want to put the book down for a second.

What I liked: The ending was really sweet. I realise that the author re wrote the ending, and I have not read the original, but this one was great. It takes place after the birth of Whitney's first child and a tradition is upheld.

I also liked how the hero was patient with her. She treated him badly a lot, but he never gave up on her. Although, There are times when he was pretty damn mean to her. I actually felt my bottom lip quiver at one point, and I almost started to cry

What I did not like: Speaking of crying; Whitney cried a lot. Usually I don't complain about heroines who cry, because I am a big cry baby, but she cried all the time.

Maybe it was part of the re write-I don't know, but near the end there are way to many pages dedicated to Whitney's brother, and a woman he doesnt even end up with. Those pages bored me, and then angered me. Why make us read all that? There was no reason for it. If not it, I would have said this was a perfect book. Oh well, I'm sure it will stay one of my favourites for a long time just the same.

Besides the ending re write, I'm told that there are 2 extra scenes. Does anyone know which scenes are missing from the original release? I'm just curious.

Romancing mister Bridgerton, By Julia Quinn
Published by-Avon books, July 2002
Grade: A

Back cover reads: Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for... well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret... and fears she doesn't know him at all.

What a cute story! Penelope's love for Colin spans over 10 years. Unfortunately he sees her as nothing more than his sisters friend. As a teenager and young woman, Penelope was over weight, dressed in clothes that did not flatter her, and she was the subject of a gossip column that didn't always have nice to things to say about her.

Colin is a man who can't stay in place for too long. He travels all over the world and can't seem to settle down. He comes home after one trip at the age of 33 and once again he is being hounded that he should get married. Penelope has long since stopped suffering that type of pressure. At 28 she is a spinster, and accepts that she will never get married.

Penelope and Colin are friends who talk to each often. During an intense discussion, Penelope has the courage to ask Colin to kiss her. She admits that she could die tomorrow and she doesn't want to die without ever being kissed. Colin kisses her of course, and then is shocked when he can't stop thinking about her. So romantic.

Colin decides that Penelope would be the perfect wife for him and asks her to marry him. They make each other laugh, they enjoy each others company, there is a physical attraction, and they are really good friends. A perfect match.

Much to the happiness of both families, they get married. The joy is short lived when someone tries to blackmail Penelope though.

What I liked: It was funny! I had a smile on my face almost the whole way through. When Colin asked Penelope to marry him she literally fell flat on her face. I LOL'ed at that part.

Colin is very loving, and says the most wonderful romantic things. I love the way he came to her defence. I'm a sucker for a hero who protects his woman so fiercely.

Those of you who have read the first few books in this series will e pleased to know that the identity of Lady Whistledown is revealed in this book. It sure wasn't who I thought it was.

What I did not like: There was only one full love scene. I would have alos liked to have seen something happen to the woman who tried to blackmail Penelope. She pretty much got away with trying to do it.

Rules of engagement, By Christina Dodd
Published by, Avon Books, Feb 2003
Grade: B

Back cover reads:

Devon Mathewes, earl of Kerrich, has a plan that is sure to restore him to the
Queen's favor. First, he must hire a sensible, unattractive governess. Next, he
will see to adopting a properly grateful orphan, which will surely lend him a
patina of respectability. Finally, he must obtain a guarantee that his orphan
and the governess will better his character and reputation without unduly
disturbing his life -- love life or otherwise.

As a condition of
accepting the governess position, Miss Pamela Lockhart of the Distinguished
Academy of Governesses has a few rules of her own. Devon at all times must
behave with propriety, an unlikely accomplishment that would delight the ton and
completely astonish Pamela herself. She must be allowed to choose a suitable
orphan at her own discretion. Most important, Devon must vow to never ever delve
into Pamela's background, or her appearance, lest he discover the truth behind
the deepest secrets of her heart. But of course, all rules are made to be
broken...

Pamela is the co owner of a Governess school. Lord Kerrich goes to school and hires a governess so that he can adopt a child in order to make himself appear more presentable to the Queen. Kerrich is a dashing man of wealth and women throw themselves at him (including his upstairs senior maid who showed up in his chambers naked) So, he wants a governess who is unattractive, on the shelf, and not interested in marriage.

Pamela is the only available governess who can take the job. The only problem is that she is young and beautiful, so she dresses in ugly ill fitting clothes, puts on a ghastly amount of face paint, and wears coloured glasses.

After meeting Kerrich and moving into his home in her disguise, she goes and gets an orphan. Kerrich wants a boy, but Pamela brings home a little girl. Her name is Beth, and Pamela soon falls under the little child's spell. Beth is pretty darn spunky.

Kerrich and Pamela develop a friendship, and even though he finds her pretty ugly with all her face paint and baggy clothes, he starts the like the honest conversations they have together. Pamela isn't afraid to tell him like it is. One evening while talking about their dreams, Kerrich kisses Pamela. Afterwards, he says he only kissed her as a test, but the truth is that he is starting to really like her.

One day Pamela gets really mad after she finds out that Kerrich has taken Beth to the horse races. She goes to the race track and yells at him. It starts to rain, and the water washes off Pamela's ugly face paint job. As soon as Kerrich sees how beautiful she is underneath he confronts her and demands to know why she has come into his house in a disguise. Pamela mocks him and says she had no choice but to ugly herself down. It was the only way to get the job and prove that she wouldn't try to bed him in the process. Kerrich doesn't like how she makes him out to sound so conceited, but he realises that she only speaks the truth.

During this conversation, Pamela finds herself getting more and more physically attracted to Kerrich. She is also angry and wants to treat him the same way so many men have treated her in the past..Like nothing but a pretty face. At this point Kerrich is wearing nothing but a robe, and she forces it open. She starts playing with his manly parts, and he is sure as heck isn't trying to stop her. I gotta say that it was the best 'virgin first time' sex I have ever read. They do it on his desk with her on top. Then they do it again on the floor, and then again in her bed chambers.

The next day Pamela is embarrassed and afraid that the other servants will treat her bad for what she did, but no one knows. Besides, they are too surprised with her true appearance to think about anything else.

Queen Victoria would like to meet Beth, and sends an invitation to Kerrich for a meeting. After Beth charms the queen, Pamela is shot by someone who has been stealing from Kerrich's bank. Pamela survives the shooting, and after spending time getting better in the palace, she realises that she is pregnant, as well as in love with Kerrich. Kerrich has fallen in love with her too, and when he tries to tell her his feelings, she goes and messes it all up. She was sure that he wanted to be rid of her, so she pretended indifference to him.

After some coaching from his grandpapa, Kerrich decides that he can't live without Pamela, and with Beth's help he tricks her into visiting his country house. At the house he tells her that he loves her, gives her a ring, she takes some time to think about it, then accepts the ring.

The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I wish there had been an epilogue to tell us how many kids the couple have had, how Beth is doing. Do they still have the same pets. Anything! I don't always need an epilogue, but the ending here was flat.

This was the 2'nd book in the Governess brides series. I read the first one, and I liked that ending much better. Even though I was disappointed at the end of this one, I still plan to read the third book in the series.

Your wicked ways, By Eloisa James
Published by, Avon, 2004
Grade: B

Back cover reads: Helene, the Countess Godwin, knows there is nothing more unbearably tedious than a virtuous woman. After all, she's been one for ten long years while her scoundrel of a husband lives with strumpets and causes scandal after scandal. So she decides it's time for a change--she styles her hair in the newest, daring mode, puts on a shockingly transparent gown, and goes to a ball like Cinderella, hoping to find a prince charming to sweep her off her feet... and into his bed.

But instead of a prince, she finds only her volatile, infuriatingly handsome... husband, Rees, the Earl Godwin. They'd eloped to Gretna Green in a fiery passion, but passion can sometimes burn too hot to last.

But now, Rees makes her a brazen offer, and Helene decides to become his wife again... but not in name only. No, this time she decides to be very, very wicked indeed.


What a refreshing read! I can say that I never come across this plot before. A fast run down.. Helene and Reese eloped 10 years ago. They were both virgins and knew nothing about sex. The first time they did it, Rees was drunk and there was no foreplay at all. Helene knew that the first time was supposed to hurt, but it kept on hurting every time they did it. Rees didn't really know what he was doing, Helene didn't talk to her friends about it at the time, and she couldn't figure out what the big deal was about sex. She really did not enjoy it. Not only were they bad together between the sheets, but they fought all the time. He complained about her body, she threw a full chamber pot at his head. They just disliked each other a lot.

Reese kicks Helene out, she goes and lives with her mother, and then Reese has his mistress move into Helene's bed chamber.

Helene decides she wants a baby, and she tries to get Reese to agree to a divorce, but he wont allow it. Helene decides that she wants a baby no matter what, so she will just go out and have sex with someone in order to get pregnant. Helene wants a baby so badly that she doesn't care about the scandal it will all bring on.

Helene's friends give her a make over and she is turned into a sultry looking sex goddess, and she has all the men of the ton begging for a dance. Reese is told what his wife is doing, and he decides that if she is going to have a baby then it better be him who helps her. He gets her to move into his house again..with his mistress still there. They are able to keep it on the down low for a while, but then word gets out that Helene is living in the same house as her husbands mistress, and her reputation is ruined.

There is much more to it all, but you have to read it for yourself to find out., You wont be disappointed.

I have to say though, that this is the first romance I have read where the hero isn't a stud in the sack. I thought it was really sweet how Helene and Rees learned about sex and got to know each others body together. Each encounter got better and better between the two of them.

I tried not to like Rees. He was such a prick, and I wanted to hate him, but for some reason I liked him a lot. I do wish the author had paid more attention to his physical side a bit more though. I'm still not certain as to what he looks like.

My favourite thing about this book is that there was no real villain. Every one in the book had a positive role in the story (or least the role they played was positive in the end)

I highly recommend Your wicked ways.

The widow's kiss, By Jane Feather
Bantam mass market, Feb 2002
Grade: B

Dear Reader,
When I first saw her, I realized that the miniature portrait I had shown to the king did not do her justice. Lady Guinevere Mallory’s beauty transcended even a portrait painter’s skill. It was nearly impossible to believe that this woman, who had buried four husbands before her thirtieth birthday, could have used murder and the dark arts of witchcraft to achieve her great wealth.

I carried the king’s writ to investigate Lady Guinevere’s oft-repeated widowhood. Was it mere coincidence that each death had left her wealthier than the last? The fact that I believed she also held lands that rightfully belonged to my family made my investigations all the more personal and all the more thorough.

Surely, I thought, such a woman would bear some obvious mark of treachery on her countenance, in her manner. But when we met I saw only the beauty of her pale blond hair and her deep violet eyes that seemed to me to offer a glimpse into the intriguing world of her brilliant mind and spirit. I began to wonder how the gentle hands of such an elegant woman, whose cool composure belied her dubious past, could have committed cold-blooded murder.

Now as I learn more about the mysterious widow, I find myself growing more curious about the secrets of her heart–and more determined to reveal those secrets. Guinevere is the most captivating and intriguing woman I have ever met. I have but one question: Will my interest in her prove to be a fatal one?

Hugh of Beaucaire

Time for a confession. I bought this book based solely on the cover. When I got home and read the back of the book I was pretty disappointed. It didn't interest me because it looked as if it was written in the first person from the hero's POV. Thats why I put off reading it for long.
Anyway, I finally got around to sticking my nose in it, and I have to say that it was pretty good.

Guinevere is a mother of 2 who has been widowed 4 times. She is beautiful, smart and convinced all her husbands to will her everything upon their deaths. When her 4'th husband dies, the King sends Lord Hugh of Beaucaire to investigate the deaths, and then bring her back to London for a trial. Hugh has interest in Guinevere because he thinks that he is owed land that was gifted to her by one of her husbands. He wants the land for his own son.

He goes to her with his son and they spend 2 months with Guinevere, her daughters and Guinevere's staff who have been with her since she was an infant.

At first Hugh doesn't like her because he thinks she is a killer and land stealer. Guinevere does not like him because she thinks he is just out to bully her.

After spending so much time together, they are attracted to each other. They have sex a few times, after her trail in front of the Privy Seal and the King, Hugh says that he wants to marry her. Guinevere is upset because she knows that Hugh wont let her keep all of her land and fortune, but unless she wants to anger the king and have her head chopped off, leaving her daughters with nothing, she has no choice but to marry him. Hugh insists that he loves her, so she should just be happy about that, because she is still wealthy, except her riches are in his name now.

Privy Seal is upset that Guinevere was not convicted, so he hires some thugs to kill Hugh and Hugh's son, making it look like Guinevere did it. When attacks, accidents and other ad things start to happen, Hugh is convinced that she is trying to kill him and his son (because even though he knows she did not kill her first 3 husbands, he is not sure that she did not kill the 4'th)
When confronting her, he treated her really bad. He said very mean things and threw her out on her ass.

He does find out the truth about who the real bad guy is and sets out to win his wife back. Compared to how badly he treated her, I don't think he did enough to earn her forgiveness. I almost started crying when he was going off on her about trying to kill his son. I wish that the author had made up for that, because I didn't buy it for a minute. I needed groveling or something. Guinevere who is supposed to be this smart, educated woman fell back into his arms like a love sick virgin. Thats the only thing that annoyed me.

This is the first Jane Feather book I have ever read. I'll keep an eye out for more.

Take Me, by Lucy Monroe
October 2006, Berkley Sensation.
Grade: A

Back cover reads: Jared, Viscount Ravenswood, has no choice but to honor the deathbed wish of his ailing servant. All she asks is that Jared introduce her soon-to-be orphaned daughter to the notorious and reclusive Calantha, Duchess of Clairborne. No ordinary request, for this is no ordinary child. She is, in fact, the key to the Duchess's most private secrets, and to Jared's own past-one that has branded him Lord Beast among the ton.

But when the Viscount meets the Duchess, he finds not the pitiless dowager he expected, but a lovely and wary angel-survivor of a brutal marriage left now with only her roses and the breathtaking mystery that is her life. For Jared, to solve it is to fall in love, to make her believe in the impossible, and to follow the promise that comes with the most intimate whisper of all... Take me...

This is the third book in the T-me trilogy. After meeting the hero in Tempt Me, I was super excited to learn more about him.
When Jared was a boy he was attacked by a wolf while trying to save his sister, Irisa, who was the heroine in Tempt Me. The wolf attack left a scar on his face. Along with the scar, his huge build and his love of swearing, he was nicknamed 'Lord Beast'. Women are afraid of him, and men intimidated by him.

Cali spent two years in a marriage with a man who humiliated and hit her. He made her feel worthless as a wife and person. When he was bad to her friends and staff she was afraid to stand up to him because she knew he would just hit her for it. Because she knew he would strike her, she considered herself a coward for not sticking up for others.

Jared and Cali are connected because his housekeeper gave birth to Hannah, a baby that Cali's husband fathered. Jared made a death bed promise to Hannah's mother that he would take Hannah to Cali. Knowing the type of monster that Cali was married to, Jared didn't want to give Hannah to her, but Mary-Hannah's mother, promised that she and Cali were once friends and that she is a kind person.
Having been married to an actual beast for 2 years, Cali was able to look past the scars on Jared's body and see the man underneath, A good kind man who loves Hannah like his own who wants the best for her. Jared does not want to give up Hannah so he convinces Cali to marry him so that they can raise the little girl together.

While Jared and Cali are falling in love someone else is trying to kill Hannah and frame Cali for it.
With the help of the couples from the other T-Me books they set out to find out who the real would be killer is.

I felt badly for Cali. Almost everyone in her new family accused her of trying to hurt Hannah, and Cali had to work hard to prove her innocence.
Jared, being the typical alpha male didn't do much to ease her hurt feelings until she flipped out on him. At one point she slapped him across the face, and I cheered her on. He was being such a jerk. Sure, he believed her, but he still let his sister and brothers in law accuse her. Sometimes they did it flat out and other times it was passive aggressive. Kudos to Irisa for sticking up for Cali. It should should been Jared though. The big jerk! I guess I'm being hard on him. I do like him, I really do! Cali doesn't like his swearing, so he tried really hard not to curse in front of her. It was so cute to see this big intimidating man stop mid-word and change what he is saying so as not to offend his wife.

I'd like to add that the the person trying to frame Cali was so not the person I thought it was. I like being fooled that way. It keeps things fresh.
I want a Jared of my own. I don't mind the potty mouth, and his scars turn me on. I love a man who looks dangerous.
I loved this book!!

Tempt Me, by Lucy Monroe
April 2006, Berkley Sensation.
Grade: A-

Humiliated by his family's indiscretions, Lucas, Lord Ashton-nicknamed "The Saint" - wants nothing more than to live a quiet life with the prim and proper bride of his choice. And if the innocent young lady in question gives him some decidedly devilish urges, he is determined to control himself-much to her dismay.

Lady Irisa Langley is at her wit's end. Much as she loves her exasperatingly perfect fiancé, she's starting to think it would be wrong of her to marry him. For Irisa has a secret that would shock even the world-weary denizens of the Ton, and someone-who doesn't want her anywhere near Lucas-knows it.

Lucas never knew that he could desire more in a bride than impeccable manners and an unblemished pedigree. But even as scandal looms, a loyal little spitfire with heated kisses and silken skin is making him forget every rule of etiquette he's ever known...

I picked up this book for a few reasons. First because I am trying to get a hold of all books written by Lucy Monroe, plus I had set out to buy Take Me. Tempt Me was sitting right there next to it, and since it's a series I jumped at the chance.

It starts off with the heroine, Irisa telling her parents that if they force her to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather, then she will let the ton know that she was born outside of marriage. Thats no big deal now a days, but back in the 1820 it black listed you.

Irisa ends up getting engaged to Lucas. He is a fierce protector who is looking for the perfect, proper wife. At first he thinks that Irisa is that perfect mate, but he learns pretty early on in the engagement that Irisa is far from perfect.
Together they deal with a blackmailer, Irisa getting kidnapped, gossip, and her hateful parents.

I love, love, love how overprotective Lucas is of her. He does not put up with anyone hitting, threatening or gossiping about the woman he loves. He deals with it swiftly and painfully. To bad so sad for the one who dares to harm her in anyway.
The thing I love the best about Temp Me is that the love they feel for each other is brought out in the open early on. There is no waiting till the last couple of pages in the book before things are straightened out. They are a loving team throughout the novel, and work on all the problems they face together.

I can't think of anything I didn't like. Irisa is a bit of a flake and so naive about sex that it makes me laugh. It's all just part of her personality though, and it doesnt take away from the book.

As soon as I can I am going to buy the first book from this series. I was meeting Thea and Drake for the first time when they made appearances in Tempt Me, and I am eager to find out how they fell in love in Touch Me.
Meeting Irisa's brother, Ravenswood intrigued me, and I can't wait to learn more about him when I start Take Me... which I am going to do right now!!!