'The Christmas Fantasy' by KT Grant -Review-

Read an excerpt: here

Firefighters, hot bathroom sex, and "Happy Hard-On" Mancini... Yep, this is going to be one hell of a holiday!

Being in love with her brother’s best friend isn’t an ideal situation for Mandy Lockeheart, but she can’t help the feelings she has for sexy firefighter Jackson Montgomery (and his glasses). She’s determined to change his ‘fraternal’ opinions about her by showing him just how much of a woman she really is; and what’s more womanly than taking charge and kissing the man senseless?
At her brother’s annual Christmas Party, Mandy decides to take matters into her own hands (quite literally) and go after the perfect Christmas/30th Birthday gift; losing her virginity to the love of her life.

'Vow Of Deception' by Angela Johnson -Review-

   'Vow of Deception' is a solid and enjoyable medieval romance with a steadfast, yet vulnerable hero and a resilient heroine. You'll absolutely FALL for the irresistible characters and compelling plot line!
   What's a knight to do when his cousin, also known as the King, commands him to escort a friend's sister into the clutches of a monster? Sir Rand Montague has a job to do and can't allow his feelings for Rose to cloud his judgment.
   Rosalyn is just starting to find some peace after the death of her abusive husband, Bertram. When the King decides to betroth her and turn over control of her son's estate to one of his knights, he doesn't realize the turmoil he will put Rose and Rand through.
   Now, to save her from a repeat of the past, Rand will have to marry Rose. She may be reluctant and refuse to consummate their vows, but danger and passion will lend a helping hand in bringing our two together.


Sir Rand Montague has a duty and obligation to his cousin, King Edward I. Escalating hostilities between England and Wales has the King strategizing and fortifying his holdings for an imminent attack. One estate which is close to the Welsh marches along the English border-which is the perfect place for the Welsh or English to strike-belongs to the barony of Ayleston. With the previous Lord and master, Lord Bertram, dead, the widowed Lady Rosalyn Harcourt (Lady Ayleston) and her son, Jason, are unprotected and vulnerable to any attacks the Welsh choose to initiate. Rand being a friend of Alex, Rosalyn's brother (and hero of the previous book; 'Vow Of Seduction') and secretly smitten with Rosalyn, see the question of her safety as his to answer.

When King Edward decides to marry off Rosalyn to one of his knights so that the estate is under 'stronger' control, he send Rand as her escort to court. Rosalyn suffered through an abusive marriage which tore at her self-esteem and sensual freedom. She wants nothing more to do with men and now only lives for her son. She decides she wants to make a vow of chastity so that she will never have to be under a man's control ever again, but she gets derailed from her plans when Sir Rand Montague shows up at the King's insistence to escort her to court.

Rosalyn's King-selected betrothed, Sir Golan de Coucy, is a vile man who is similar to her late-husband, and Rose can't suppress the dread and dejavu as Sir Golan tries to force his attentions on her before they are even wed. Rose sees the marriage to Sir Golan as a prison sentence all over again and will do anything to be released from it.

Rand can't bare to see Rose go down the path of misery for a second time and offers to marry her and save her from her fate. She agrees, but only if the marriage is in name only. Her late-husband made her feel inferior and disgusting for having natural reactions to carnal pleasures, so even though she is attracted to Rand and knows he is a good man, she finds it difficult to indulge in her marital bed or open up to Rand.

Slowly, Rand will have to break through Rose's defenses to make their marriage one they both deserve. Little does he know, Rose holds a secret that will soon change his life forever, and all the while, Sir Golan is furious at being duped out of a wife and lush lands, so he vows revenge. Lives are in danger and passions rise to a boil as Rand battles to save the one he loves and give them both a chance at the happily ever after they've both been denied in the past.

Rating: 3 1/2 Red Roses

My Favorite Part of the Book: Is when Rose is assaulted by Sir Golan and Rand swoops in and saves her. I thought this scene was intense and sweet because you saw the years of torment Rose went through with her first husband rush to the surface again and Rand is there to help her through it. And then, Rand goes one step further and offers to marry her and save her from marriage to Sir Golan! The scenes were well-written and the made me itch to find out what would happen next.

If you're a fan of good medieveil romances, than you are a fan of 'Vow of Deception'. Whenever a plot deals with an abused heroine, the progression of the story is somewhat centered around her recovery. While reading this book, you'll be pulling for Rosalyn and swooning for Rand's gallantry. I would have liked that progresson of recovery to move/develop just a bit faster and have some of that extra page time devoted to the sub plot of the Jason's paternity, but there was enough interesting plot line to move you along in the story. I was sataisfied with the action-packed ending and will be reading more Angela Johnson books in the near-furture.

[Special Thanks to the author
for sending a copy for review]

* Want more Johnson novels? Try 'Vow Of Seduction', Rosalyn's brother, Alex's story!

'The Claiming Of Suzy' by KT Grant -Review-

   A delicious read, perfect for some Friday night indulging! 'The Claiming Of Suzy' is filled to the brim with lovable characters, interesting storyline, and all the driver-seat sexcapades you could ever want.
   Sassy and sensuous Suzy Bean is ready to make her move on the guy she’s always had a ‘thing’ for. He may be one hunky, tall, dark and handsome Alejandro of a masseuse with ab’s of steel and bedroom eyes that could send grandma into cardiac arrest, but Suzy is confident in her own skin and plans to drive one J.C Mosino absolutely wild.
   When she finally confronts her attraction to Mosino, Suzy is optimistic at the idea of where their spontaneous living room activities will end up. But once J.C. opens his mouth and says some incendiary comments, Suzy isn't sure how they will be able to move forward.
   And then, in walk Xavier Marks- new partner at Suzy's job, and an irresistible smooth-talker who reins in his attentions and focuses on Suzy! Now the choices have been laid out and someone’s got some 'Claiming' to do.

[Read an excerpt: here]

Major aspect to the plot in a sentence: Suzy Bean knows what she wants, or at least, she thought she did.
   At the thirty-fifth wedding anniversary celebration for her parents, Suzy Bean gets slightly tipsy and the gallant J.C. Mosino whisks her back to her apartment to recuperate. From there, quite simply: it is ON! This is all a part of Suzy’s grand master plan to take her flirtatious friendship with J.C. to the next level. Back at the apartment, Suzy finally makes her move and to her overwhelming joy, J.C. couldn’t be more enthusiastic. They share passionate kiss after steamy, passionate kiss; or perhaps it’s that same kiss that started it all, just deliciously prolonged.
   Eventually they find their way to the living room couch and as J.C. helps himself to Suzy’s ‘honey pot’, he can’t help himself and spills passionate words of praise that leave Suzy a little less than flattered. If you made a move on the man you’ve had the hugest crush on, and he actually kisses you back and THEN some-only to liken your stomach to a ‘soft, downy pillow', wouldn’t you be a little disappointed as well? J.C. further makes an ass out of himself, believing he’s done nothing wrong, and can only vaguely imagine why Suzy would slam the door in his face and refuse to open up-in more ways than one!
   While Suzy gives J.C. the silent treatment, she is also quitting smoking (cold-turkey) and giving up caffeine. Suzy, a woman accustomed to never deny herself a good smoke, a double espresso latte, or a good screw, now finds herself without any of her vices.
   Luckily-or maybe frustratingly- for Suzy, her sufferings are tempered by the flirtation and attentions of a sexy new man in the office building. A fine, tall glass of chocolate milk indeed, Xavier Marks is not only looking in Suzy’s direction for some fun, he’s also her BOSS!
   Xavier’s intentions, while often joked upon, are sincere and he makes Suzy feel great about herself during a time when everything’s confusing the hell out of her. She still can’t seem to get over J.C.’s insensitive words or figure out what to do regarding their relationship. All the while, Xavier wants to move in where J.C. dropped the ball, but Suzy can’t  help hesitating when her heart screams for another. Misunderstandings aside, can Suzy truly give up something that could be potentially wonderful in exchange for what her confused little heart has always wanted?
   At the end of the day- or Halloween gala- the best man will win and Suzy will get thoroughly claimed.

Rating: 3 1/2 Red Roses

My Favorite Part of the Book: Is when Suzy first meets Xavier in a coffee shop and doesn't know he's her soon-to-be boss. He's flirting with a barista who doesn't give-in to his charms, then he sets his sights on Suzy. It was just a generally cute scene because it's so obvious Xavier enjoys flirting, and Suzy calls him out on his crap, but she can't help feeling hooked-lined-and sinkered by his suave words.

   If you’re looking for that patented KT Grant heat, you'll definitely find it in this novella. If you’ve read, 'For The Love Of Mollie', you are familiar with Suzy's character and probably expect nothing but sexual bliss throughout the 129 pages. Think again! While it does get hot and heavy (just the way we like it), there was a considerable amount of restraint that you wouldn’t anticipate. It was story, not a karma sutra. I admit to looking out for sex scene upon sex scene, but Grant put more depth into her characters and plot than I expected to see. Suzy is confidence personified, but when J.C. made a comment about her stomach, you saw her tough wall come down a bit. She had insecurities and indecision plaguing her left and right, but when everything came together at the end, you had a smile on your face because you realize you were rooting for her the whole time. The only thing that had me wincing a bit was the dirty talk. I am a little miss-ish and sentimental when it comes to bedroom vernacular and Grant's will definitely go outside the box and around the corner! But just like any great roller coaster -you'll enjoy the ride, regardless if you're a little faint-hearted ;).  I read this on a Friday night with tons of chips ahoy and it felt luxurious! Indulge yourself and read this one!

[Special thanks to the author

for sending the PDF for review]

* And if Xavier left an impression on you like he did with me, prepare for his story! 'Xavier's Loving Arms' will be released by Decadent Publishing soon (will keep you posted with a date!)

'Desires Of A Perfect Lady' by Victoria Alexander -Review-

   Reluctant adventure and reluctant love are what await you if you choose to pick up this novel. A delightful story of love lost and then found and then put to the test once again.
   While on a quest to procure the missing pieces to her late-husband's art collections, which will ensure she receives her inheritance left to her from his death, Lady Olivia Rathbourne must now turn to the one man she trusted with her heart 10 years ago and who failed her when she needed him most.
   Sterling Harrington, the Earl of Wyldewood, fell hard for the joyful 18 year old Olivia when he was only 20. Now, a decade later, a deception which tore the two apart has been revealed and Lady Olivia is in danger once again. She needs his help not only to stay alive but to gain her financial independence and freedom; and Sterling will NOT fail her again.
   And then Olivia's secret list of desires comes into play, and a journey for treasure turns into a journey back to love.

Read an excerpt: here

   Respected (or at least tolerated) member of The London Antiques Society, it was the consensus that Lord Rathbourne, in spite of his impressive art collections, was a man of questionable character. It really didn't come as much of a shock when his lordship was found murdered, in the garden, with his neck slit. He was a man of many possessions and a possessiveness towards said possessions (try saying that 3x fast). You could ask his wife, Lady Olivia Rathbourne, exactly how far he went to securing his interests. Forced to marry Lord Rathbourne and not the love of her life was just the start of Olivia's 10 year estrangement from the world (and from happiness). Finally, her husband is dead and she is free, but a stipulation in her husband's will which states that in order to receive her full inheritance as his widow, she must complete 3 of his unfinished art collections, which will likely see her sequestered in their oppressive home for the rest of her life.
   But Olivia has been through far too much at the hands of her husband, and waited far to long to start crossing items off her secret list of desires, to let Lord Rathbourne continue to control her from the grave. She picks up the gauntlet he has set out for her, but with little money and limited resources to accomplish her goals, she finds she must seek out the help of the man who failed to save her from marrying Lord Rathbourne in the first place( and whom she spent the last 10 years trying to forget she loved).
   Sterling Harrington was an Earl. He had two brothers who were adventures, but his responsibilities left little room for adventures. Considered stuffy, stodgy, and incredibly dull,. Sterling has tried to forget the lighter times in his life. 10 years ago he met and fell in love with Olivia, but one day, Olivia's father came acalling; informing the Earl that Olivia would be marrying Lord Rathbourne and that she had no desire to see him ever again. Heart broken and dejected, he ignored the 3 letters Olivia sent him in the beginning (which he thought were softer-worded apologies) and married, lost his wife and moved on with his life.
   A decade later, Olivia's father calls on him again, with little time left in his life and a multitude of sins to try and atone for. He informs Sterling that he forced Olivia to marry Lord Rathbourne and that she sent the Earl those letters, begging him to save her from the match but that they went unanswered. He then informs Sterling that he believes the same persons who killed Lord Rathbourne could possibly come back and do harm to Olivia, and that he wants Sterling to protect her. Reluctant at first, Sterling insinuates himself back into Olivia's life with a mission to keep her safe as he should have done 10 years ago.
   Olivia isn't exactly okay with Sterling's reappearance in her life, but his insistence on helping her will begin to become more warmly receipted when she finds out about her husband's stipulation in his will. Sterling's presences will also make crossing off the bedding of him off her list.
   Their quest takes them to Egypt with scary Egyptian snakes, and then to Venice, where a Counte and his Contessa will be of a similar mind to court the favor of our Hero and Heroine. By happenstance, procuring the first two items for the collection is relatively easy; it's the resolving of issues from the past and making item #1 on Olivia's secret list of desires a task worth a lifetime, which will prove difficult.

Rating: 3 1/2 Red Roses

My Favorite Part of the Book: Is when Olivia is after the second item in Venice. She meets the flirtatious Counte de Sarafini, whom is the owner of the painting she needs to complete the second collection. He invites her to luncheon with the unexpressed intention of luring her to his bed. She goes to the luncheon alone, flirting outrageously with the Counte as well, but offers no more than a trade of paintings instead of a trade of bed-favors for the required paintings. The scene is funny because the Contessa has invited Sterling to a private luncheon too and he goes so he can negotiate for the painting, as well. Olivia is caught in a compromising position, and the dynamics of these scenes are priceless!

   Overall, this book was an enjoyable read. Having read the previous novel, 'The Virgin's Secret', I had a little bit of knowledge on the Sterling-Olivia debacle. While I felt the 'adventure' theme over-whelmed the romance a bit, it was interesting to a degree and played it's role. I felt the characters were developing steadily, both of mind and relationship, but I did feel the revelations weren't developed as well as they could have and ran around in circles a bit. There was longing, coated in betrayal that was real interesting to read and it teased the reader throughout the novel. Give it a read!

*Try the previous novel in the Harrington Brother's series, 'The Virgin's Secret'. My Review can be found: here

*Want more from Victoria Alexander? Try 'Love With The Proper Husband'.

'That Perfect Someone' by Johanna Lindsey -Review-

   This one was a nice novel to curl up with on a rainy day and get swept away. It was as action-packed and full of twists and turns as any novel we can expect from Lindsey, and I really liked it. 'That Perfect Someone' wasn't as affecting as some of the other Mallory novels in the series, but it still holds solid merit.
   Julia Miller is shocked to find the battered up face of her elusive fiancee' staring back at her after he left England and disappeared without a trace all those years ago.
   Richard Allen is dangerously in love with the wife of a formidable English nobleman (the beloved James Mallory, see 'Gentle Rogue') and can't help himself when an opportunity to clap eyes on James' wife again comes about.
   He fled England 9 years ago to escape the controlling manipulations of his father, the Earl of Manford, and is now dismayed when his precarious foray back to London puts him face to face with the one woman he detests the most; his fiancee'.


   For 9 long years, Julia Miller and her fortune were held firmly on the shelf. Betrothed practically from infancy, Julia held no illusions as to why her presumable husband-to-be left England and never came back. They threatened each other with consequences of death multiple times, and Julia even managed to draw blood from Richard on more than one occasion when their tempers couldn't be reigned in. Finally determined to put the past behind her and take the reigns of her future, Julia begins to contemplate the best way to rid herself of her troublesome marriage contract to Richard Allen and start her life anew. She hopes for the chance to engage all of society as a woman in search of a husband of her choosing, but fate had other plans.
   At the masquerade ball being thrown in honor of Georgina Mallory's birthday, friends and family from near and far all come together to celebrate. Little do they know, amidst the crush of party-goers, the 'Frenchmen sailor' moving among them is not only a party crasher, but the missing son of an Earl. Richard Allen left home 9 years ago, determined to make it on his own, fell into piracy and came out on the other side of things with the help of his loyal friends. Richard was the second son of the Earl of Manford and once his eldest brother married well-socially-,  it was up to him to marry well-financially-. His father never showed him any semblance of love or affection and tried to control every aspect of Richard's life until one day, he had enough and took matters into his own hands. 
   Back in London for a short visit, Richard tries to avoid detection by both those from his former life and the husband of the woman he is dangerously infatuated with. Suffice to say, nothing goes according to plan and he comes face to fist with James Mallory and face to face with the woman he left behind.
   Julia is in a rage once she discovers Richard is back and she tries to settle the matter of their betrothal before he get the chance to takes off again. When Richard is also discovered by his father, he is given an ultimatum: either marry Julia or be 'taught a lesson' and transported to Australia as a 'convict'. The latter is forced on him when he refuses to marry just to fill his father's pockets, and it is Julia (with the help of a reluctant James Mallory & friends) who saves him from his horrid fate.
   Once Richard is safely off the transport ship, he and Julia come to a 'truce' of sorts and put their differences aside so that they may devise a plan to steal the marriage contract which has ruled their lives thus far and destroy it. The plan was simple: pretend to be in love to gain entry into the Earl's home, search for the contract and dispose of it, and FINALLY move on with their lives. But, as their feelings for each other start to grow more intense, their plan backfired and they now have to face the consequences together. The hero and heroine are both stubborn as mules, but eventually they learn to be honest with themselves and each other and soon realize that they are with their 'Perfect Someone'.

Rating: 3 1/2 Red Roses

My Favorite Part of the Book: Is when Richard is saved from being transported to Australia, and at first has no knowledge that it is Julia who helped put the rescue party together. He says something mean to her and then she gets upset and runs off. The others in the cabin who witness this call him out on his stupidity and he goes after her to try and make things right. In the heat of his apology, some old feelings are stirred up and as Richard comforts Julia, they begin to feel some undeniable sexual tension. The whole sequence of scenes were sweet, sensual and full of emotion and I loved them!

   Overall, you're guaranteed to find something to love about this book. Like the main character's struggle to remember exactly why they hated each other all those years ago, the side plot of Richard's true paternity, or the wonderful cameos by some Mallory series favorites. Towards the end of the novel, it feels as though the story is being prolonged. Once Julia and Richard decide to be honest about their feelings, the whole point of the second ship voyage to the Caribbean is misleading and pointless. I thought something more dramatic was going to happen. The book tried to do a little too much, and some elements weren't developed pace-wise to their full potential, which threw the book off a little, but you'll still find plenty of reasons to finish the book with a smile on your face.

*Why not try one of the earlier novels in the Mallory/Anderson Series, 'Gentle Rogue', Georgina and James' Story!

*And if pirates tales are your poison, try one of Johanna Lindsey's!:'A Pirate's Love'!

'At The Duke's Pleasure' by Tracy Anne Warren -Review-

   What an engaging novel! The beginning had me hooked and the ending solidified this author in my ever-growing list of 'author's to look-out for'. I enjoyed the zany plots by the heroine to get out of a marriage she thinks will break her, and the hero slowly letting go of his 'ducal mask' so that he can embrace his love before it's too late.
   Claire Marsden was scarcely out of the womb before her father and the previous Duke of Clybourne came to an 'understanding' concerning their eldest children. They were to be married, and all Claire's life, she had been brought up and prepared for her future life as a duchess. It isn't until she realizes her fiancee' has no intention of trying to make a love match from the union that she decides if she can't have his heart, she doesn't want his last name.
   Claire has to pull out all the stops if she wants to end this damnable marriage, but Edward Byron won't let her out of it that easy. He tries to be lenient with her as she acts out, but can't understand her maddening resistances to the marriage; or how she suddenly became the most important thing in his life.

[Read an excerpt: here]

   The duke's son was a pragmatic and mature youngster for all his age of 10 years old. The Byron family make the trip to Nottinghamshire to visit with their good friends, the Marsdens, and little Edward Byron is about to meet the newest addition to the Marsden family. A squirming, red-faced, screaming baby is laid in Edward's arms and a few seconds later, he is informed that he is holding his future wife. Shocked and dismayed, Edward already sees Claire Marsden as an 'obligation' and is set in his ways to do what is expected of him and leave it at that.
   Claire on the other hand, had different ideas when it came to what kind of marriage she wanted. She didn't just want to be wedded one day and carted off to the country to be forgotten the next. At the age of 16, during one of her rare visits with her betrothed, Claire overhears him talking about her (speaking of her as if she were a child 'barley out of leading strings' and his having no intention of falling in love with her) and her fairy tale romance is quickly spun into a horrid nightmare.
   At 33, Edward finally decides he is ready to follow up on his duty to marry Claire. He visits her at her home, is pleasantly surprised by her transformation into a full-grown and attractive woman, and equally stunned by her adamant desire not to be wed. He believes Clarie is upset about having to miss out on all the society functions because she was already promised to a duke and her father saw no reason to 'waste' money on a come-out. He speaks to Claire's father and volunteers to finance her trip to London. She will soon find herself in the whirlwind of the season and in a boat load of scandalous ploys aimed at extricating herself from an inevitably loveless marriage.
   Through Claire's numerous and notorious escapades during the season, Edward indulges her and is patient and lenient when most men would have buckled under the embarrassment and freed her from the marriage contract. Somewhere down the road, he finds himself falling in love with the woman he is to wed and isn't pleased about it. Like most men in historicals, Edward has some unconvincing 'reason' for wanting to keep love separate from marriage, but fate had other things in mind. His secret work for the crown as a spy soon puts his curious Claire in mortal danger, and he will have to find a way to face his feelings and allow happiness back into his life before it's too late.

Rating: 3 1/2 Red Roses

My Favorite Part of the Book: Is the beginning, where Edward and his family are visiting the Marsdens and he is given the newborn Claire to hold. You can sense the tension in the scene like something major is about to happen. Baby Claire was wailing and squirming and acting like any baby would, and Edward had some pretty funny commentary about that. Once the baby is settled in his arms, however, she quiets up and Edward beings to see the more charming qualities babies possess. It is all ruin though, when Edward is inform that the infant he is holding is his fiancee'. I couldn't stop laughing and marveling in the brilliance of this particular scene. And it happened right at the start, so the book had me hooked from page 1!

   Overall, this was an excellent read. I couldn't get over how marvelous it was in the beginning, and how fast I became a Tracy Anne Warren fan. Her writing style is superb and easy to follow. It had a flow to it that made each page turn itself. Some con's to this novel would have to be the annoying traits of some of the characters. Flaws are an important part to any novel's characters, but I found myself rolling my eyes at Claire's back and forth between whiny young miss and level-headed maverick. Her character was great at some points, a bit trying at others, and Edward's reason for staving off love wasn't overwhelmingly compelling, but at the end of the book, I was in love. I also enjoyed the ending as well. So many authors would have gone the other direction just to avoid cliche' and predictability, but the story was all the better for Warren's biting the bullet (kind of literally) and it was one of the high points in the story for me (a reason I may just have to re-read).

*And also check out the next book in the series, 'Wicked Delights In A Bridal Bed', Mallory's story! My Review can be found: here

-And check out my Interview with Tracy Anne Warren where she talks all about WDOABB and more!: here

 *Or give one of the other novels from  The Byrons of Braebourne Series a read!:

'Four Dukes And A Devil' (Novella)

'Tempted by His Kiss'

'Seduced By His Touch'