Review: A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare

Book: A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare (Spindle Cove #3)
Published: August 28, 2012 (Avon Books)
Format: Digital ARC from publisher via Edelweiss
Summary: After years of fending for herself, Kate Taylor found friendship and acceptance in Spindle Cove--but she never stopped yearning for love. The very last place she'd look for it is in the arms of Corporal Thorne. The militia commander is as stone cold as he is brutally handsome. But when mysterious strangers come searching for Kate, Thorne steps forward as her fiance. He claims to have only Kate's safety in mind. So why is there smoldering passion in his kiss?

My Review: Tessa Dare has done it again. I have yet to read a Dare novel during which I did not laugh multiple times and swoon nearly as often. Spindle Cove is my favorite series of hers yet, and A Lady by Midnight just may be the best of the three full-length novels in it (although it's definitely a close race).

One of the advantages of a romance series is that you can slowly build to a couple through books before the two ever actually get their story told. This was the case in A Lady by Midnight. Even though their build-up during the previous books was very subtle when compared to Book Two's Couple (so as not to spoil it for you) in A Night to Surrender, I was utterly captivated by Kate and Thorne. There was so much mystery surrounding them! In the previous books, there was pretty much one tiny moment where there was just a hint of...something. That's it. That's all you got. Did they have a positively torrid affair? Were they childhood BFFs? Was he secretly an undercover spy who recognized her as the long-lost princess of a tiny-but-successful country? YOU HAVE NO IDEA. When I read the excerpt - just enough to be tantalizing - in A Week to be Wicked, I went positively berserk. To think, I was cruelly going to have to wait months for this! (Really, I have a tendency to get dramatic over the wait for books. Reason #4378 that I love the book blogging community is that you guys get it.)

Anyway. I was not entirely sure what to expect of Kate and Thorne's story, but I knew I was going to love it. And I was not wrong! While it was a part of the story, I did not think of it at as "posing as the fianceé" book at all. There was so much more to the story. Kate was digging into her past, trying to figure out who her parents might have been. Then, all the sudden, people came out of the woodwork, claiming Kate, an orphan since she can remember, as a part of their unconventional but Titled family. There was mystery surrounding this, as well as the continued question of how, exactly, Thorne knew Kate. As to that, there were hints throughout the book before the truth finally came out.

The romance between these two was incredible! I love how neither of them were 100% "pretty people." Kate had a large, red birthmark on her face that made her very self-conscious, and Thorne was hulking, unrefined, and his features were too harsh to be considered handsome by many. It was a nice change. You don't have to be conventionally attractive for someone to love you or view you as such, and this book was a great example of that. As for the characters themselves, I loved them! Although I did sometimes wanted to kick Thorne because he was so dang self-condemning and couldn't see how wonderful he was. Over the course of the story, I became so attached to them that I full-out cried when they got their Happily Ever After at the end.

All in all, A Lady by Midnight was utterly splendid and charming and absolutely a worthy addition to the Spindle Cove series. I immensely enjoyed Kate and Thorne's story, and I would recommend it to any lover of historicals who enjoys her romance with a side of mystery, smoldering chemistry, wit, and lots of laughter.

Corporal Thorne could make a woman quiver, from all the way across the room. An inconvenient talent, so far as Kate Taylor was concerned. Kate realized she had a grave problem. She was infatuated. Or mildly insane. Probably both. The mood went from black to some iridescent color only found in rainbows and seashells. She was already suffering these fierce pangs of infatuation on the basis of his looks and strength alone. If he revealed a streak of sharp wit in the bargain, she might be in desperate straits. Those words shivered through her bones like cello notes, each one settling to a low, arousing thrum at the base of her spine.

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Review: Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks

Book: Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks
Published: September 27, 2011 (Ballantine Books)
Format: Physical copy from library
Summary: Fiercely loyal to his elder brother, Alaric McCabe leads his clan in the fight for their birthright and must wed for duty. But on his way to claim the hand of Rionna McDonald, he is ambushed and left for dead. Miraculously, his life is saved by the soft touch of a Highland angel. An outcast from her own clan, Keeley McDonald was betrayed by those she loved and trusted. When the wounded warrior falls from his horse, she is drawn to his strong, lean body. The wicked glint in his green eyes ignites a passion that will follow them back to Alaric's keep, where their forbidden love draws them deeper into the pleasures of the flesh. But as conspiracy and danger circle closer, Alaric must make an impossible choice: Will he betray his blood ties for the woman he loves?

My Review: Thanks to Outlander, I found myself craving another romance set in Scotland. I had seen a lot of Maya Banks but had never read anything by her. I stumbled across this one at the library and decided to give it a try. I had mixed feelings about Seduction of a Highland Lass: there were things I really enjoyed, as well as things I didn't. Overall, it was a good, but not great book.

I would normally wax eloquent here about the hero of the novel, but not this time. The hero was definitely the element that weakened Highland Lass the most, for me. While he had his moments, Alaric was a one-dimensional, cookie-cutter super Alpha who was really quite boring. At no point did I feel especially attached to him, or the idea of him and Keeley. In fact, a (disconcertingly large) portion of me almost wanted Keeley to end up with his brother. Yes, his BROTHER. As opposed to Alaric, Caelen was a multi-faceted, extremely intriguing, and thoroughly swoon-worthy figure. While I didn't really want Keeley to wind up with Caelen (because I liked her, and she loved Alaric, although who knows why), I still found myself jumping to attention any time his name was mentioned or he appeared on the scene. Caelen was what made this book not only worth finishing, but made reading until the end a mandatory thing.

One more negative: If I saw the phrase "'tis the truth" or "'twas the truth" one more time, I was going to RIP OUT MY OWN HAIR. Seriously. At one point, it occurred three times in half a page. I don't read a lot of Scottish romances, and if the dialogue is typically that repetitive, there's no way I could bring myself to read very many of them, no matter how much I enjoy the setting. Which I really, really do. In fact, that was one of the things I did like about this book. The clans, the loyalty, the land. I have discovered that I really enjoy reading books set against a historical Scotland background. I find it fascinating.

Another potential draw of this book would be the steam factor. If you're looking for a book with some scenes to make you blush, this would be a great choice for you. 'Tis the truth (HA). But really, the memory of one particular scene is still enough to make me fan myself. And I'm sitting outside in the breeze. And I read this book over two months ago.

I would recommend reading In Bed with a Highlander, the first in the series, first, because books number 2 and 3 refer a lot to events that happened in it. All in all, Seduction of a Highland Lass had its ups as well as downs. The romance was fairly mediocre, but I really liked Keeley. Honestly, it would be worth reading for Caelen alone.

The tales she spun in her head would make a bard look boring.

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Review: Storming the Castle by Eloisa James

Book: Storming the Castle by Eloisa James
Published: December 21, 2010 (HarperCollins)
Format: Audiobook from the library
Summary: What Miss Phillipa Damson needs is a good, old fashioned knight in shining armor. What she has is a fiancé she never wanted and a compelling urge to run away. But if she manages to escape, will she find her happily ever after?

My Review: As I'm not generally the biggest fan of Cinderella retellings, I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James when I read it last year. During the reading, there was one secondary character who stood out: Wick, the major domo/butler who had some additional relationship to the prince that was quite the mystery for a while. I unfailingly loved him in every scene in which he appeared. When I later saw that he had his own story, I jumped at the chance to read (well, listen to) it.

May I reiterate, just in case you missed it: A love story where the hero is a butler! How awesome is that?

Forced to run away from home or face a marriage to a horrid man, Phillipa chose the former. When she heard that the prince and princess had a need of someone to help their sick baby, Phillipa jumped at the chance. She had previous experience with children and medicine, so the position was perfect for her. She felt an immediate attraction to Wick, and the feeling was reciprocated, although neither disclosed it at first. Yet there were bigger problems than her deception separating them: As Phillipa was not actually a servant, their stations were not compatible with the prospect of a future together. Phillipa was far above Wick in station, and Wick was a stickler for living according to rules and protocol. How could the two ever have a future together?

One thing I can definitely say about Phillipa and Wick is that they had magnificent chemistry, and it culminated in a couple scenes that had steam rising from my dashboard. As Storming the Castle was a novella and there was not room for the development of a full-length novel, their relationship felt rushed, especially since my preference generally runs toward the drag-it-out-as-long-as-possible end of the spectrum. In addition, the progression of their relationship toward the beginning was a little strange and awkward. Overall, though, their story was cute and ultimately satisfying, and it made for a very enjoyable few hours.


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Second Chance Saturday: July 2012 Edition

Second Chance Saturday is a Fictionally Inclined feature wherein I pick, read, and review a book each month that I have previously written off for some reason or another. (If you'd like more information on how this feature works, check out this introduction post.)



This Month's Featured Book: Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean
This Book Was a Second Chance Because... I had a previous meh experience with the author.
Verdict: Loved it! Totally worth the second chance.
Purchase: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Better World Books || The Book Depository

Review: The Duke Is Mine by Eloisa James

Title: The Duke Is Mine
Author: Eloisa James
Published: December 2011 (Avon)
Format: Physical copy from library
Summary: Tarquin, the powerful Duke of Sconce, knows perfectly well that the decorous and fashionably slender Georgiana Lytton will make him a proper duchess. So why can't he stop thinking about her twin sister, the curvy, headstrong, and altogether unconventional Olivia? Not only is Olivia betrothed to another man, but their improper, albeit intoxicating, flirtation makes her unsuitability all the more clear. Determined to make a perfect match, he methodically cuts Olivia from his thoughts, allowing logic and duty to triumph over passion...until Quin begins to question whether perfection has anything to do with love. To win Olivia's hand he would have to give up all the beliefs he holds most dear, and surrender heart, body and soul...unless it's already too late.

My Review: Eloisa James is one of my favorite historical romance authors, and she has done a series of stories with fairytale elements. The Duke Is Mine is, as you can probably tell from the cover, a story with a strong influence from the fairytale The Princess and the Pea. I wasn't particularly excited about this idea, because I've always found that to be a ridiculously stupid story. It's never made sense to me. But I adore James, and the summary of the book caught my interest immediately, so I read it anyway.

There were several things I enjoyed about this book. My favorite element was the witty tone and wonderfully snarky banter that made an appearance at times. I also really loved that both the hero and the heroine had what might be considered physical flaws. Olivia was curvy, and Tarquin had a thick white streak in his hair. Such a unique touch! I hadn't read another book where this was the case, but I liked it. It was a way to make the hero less than perfect physically without giving him actual disfigurement or horrible looks or something. I liked how both of these played into the story as well, particularly Olivia's weight.

Olivia was awesome, hands-down. Her sense of humor was hilarious and very similar to mine, so I appreciated reading from her perspective. The aforementioned snark predominantly played out there. She had traits that could have been annoying, if over the top, but she balanced them well. It was also interesting and touching to read about her relationship with her sister. I also really liked Tarquin, with all his logic and reason and poems to nonexistent women.

Overall, the romance was great. There was some drama toward the end that was a little boring and predictable, but it was necessary for the story. There were also surprising elements such as the ability to make me tear up a couple times, and I snorted with laughter on more than one occasion. So, although there were some weak elements, The Duke Is Mine was a highly enjoyable romance with a great take on the fairytale twist.

❝That way no one will think that we spent the night doing wicked things in a tree, which I’m sure is what would come to mind if we appeared together. I often assume people are cavorting in trees.❞

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Review: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Outlander (Outlander #1)
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Published: June 1991 (Delacorte Press)
Summary: The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach - an "outlander" - in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the Year of Our Lord 1743. Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life...and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

My Review: My first impression of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon was this: "Now, that is big book." Seriously. The thing is huge. I mean, I started it when I got to a class early, and when I went to hold it in one hand and prop it against the table to read, I dropped it because the weight of the unread side was so heavy that it actually caused me to lose my grasp of the book. Thankfully, I (not-so-)gracefully caught it before it landed on the floor, and no damage occurred. This is particularly good since I got the anniversary edition, with the fancy, cushy binding and the CD of tracks from the Outlander musical (which I didn't even know existed). Anyway, back to the size. I almost let the size dissuade me from reading the book. After all, there wasn't much left of the school year, and a book like that was sure to eat up what little free time I did have. I'm also not a huge time-travel fan. However, I'd heard good things about it from romance fans, and the word "classic" was thrown around a lot. So I decided to give it a shot. BEST DECISION EVER.

I almost did a video review of this book a few days after I finished it. Except it really would have wound up being ten minutes of uncontrollable flailing and rambling and tangents that would make no sense, due to trying to avoid any spoilers. So I decided a regular review would be the way to go. At least this way I can pretend to be a little bit organized.

First of all, there is absolutely no denying that this book is huge. However, what you might not guess is that Outlander is like a time continuum or vortex or time-travel contraption all on its own. Because every single time I sat down to read this book, I was completely lost in the world. It was as if the time I spent reading just disappeared. It was so compelling, so enthralling, that even though it did take a substantial amount of time to read, it never, ever felt like it. In fact, I wasn't ready for it to end, even when it did. A lot of times, I will (very carefully, avoiding any of the text) look at the last page of a book to see how many pages long it is, so I'm not fooled any deceptive 20-page-long Reading Guides/Author's Notes/whatnot at the end. Unfortunately, I somehow got the wrong number in my head for this book, so I thought it was almost twenty pages longer than it actually was. Thus, the last thirty seconds of my reading looked kind of like this:

Me: *reading along and smiling though a slight mist of tears*...*turning page*...*jaw dropping in horror* WAIT, WHAT?! IT'S OVER? NOOOO!
Roommate: *looking up from her book* ...Um. Are you okay?
Me: I don't know. *leaping off the bed and hurling self toward laptop to check Goodreads for the second book*
Roommate: Right. Okay. *going back to her book*

The funny thing is that it actually wasn't a bad place to end. It was a pretty good one, really. But because of my page count mistake, I was not mentally prepared for it to be over. And I need my mental preparation! Especially when I've loved a world so much as this one. Thus the ever-so-slightly dramatic reaction.

Speaking of the world, I really should get on with the whole review part of the review, huh? Well, the world was one of my favorite things about it. I've read tons of historical romance, but very few of those have actually been set in Scotland or the mid 1700's. I tend to focus mostly on Regency (surprise, surprise) with some others thrown in for good measure. Therefore, I didn't have a basis of comparison. The world building in Outlander was fantastic. I actually felt like I was in 18th century Scotland. And what's more - Gabaldon made me feel like I wanted to be there. It had a very similar effect to that of when I read The Scottish Chiefs, which is mostly the story of William Wallace (Braveheart), which I read for History class back in high school and loved. Back to Outlander, though. The details were perfect. They lent the world a strong sense of authenticity but never felt overwhelming, unnecessary, or boring. Everything from the characters to the setting worked together to form the Wonderful World of Outlander, which I never wanted to leave.

As for the characters, Claire was a great heroine. She was delightfully normal, with both admirable traits and flaws. I enjoyed reading this story from her perspective. The supporting characters were interesting. The villain was appropriately horrid. And now, for the character you are all wondering about. The hero, Jamie. Swoon with a capital S. And, really, a capital WOON, too, because he was just that wonderful. Honestly, I don't know what more to say. For you to discover how amazing he truly was, you would just have to read the book.

There were several other things I enjoyed about Outlander. I expected not to like the beginning before the time travel occurred, but I actually enjoyed it. The pace of the whole book was perfect. As one would imagine, the story did not unfold quickly, yet somehow it never felt like it dragged. It felt just right. Although I did not always like the circumstances themselves, I appreciated that Gabaldon treated things in a period-appropriate manner.

Outlander came this close to being a 5-star book to me. Unfortunately, there were a few things that rubbed me a little bit the wrong way, but I still loved it beyond belief. While I'm on the subject, though, I might as well address it, since I've been meaning to for a while. Obtaining a 5 star rating from me is a nearly impossible feat. I know some people say "5 stars" all the time, and I don't hold it against them. But for me, I see 5 stars as Absolute Perfection. If a book is not absolutely FLAWLESS, or does not make me absolutely adore it so much that I can overlook any flaws, I will not rate it 5 stars. Period. The last book I rated 5 stars was Heart of the West by Penelope Williamson, which I read in September 2010. That's almost 2 years ago; I've read approximately 200 books since then. Not a one (other than re-reads of old favorites) has been rated 5 stars. That's actually why I switched over from using a rating scale based on numbers. I do still use numbers, obviously, but I no longer include them in all my reviews. Aaand look at that. I seem to have digressed again. But I'm wrapping up now, I promise.

I will just toss this out there: Outlander had some things I didn't think to expect, and it wasn't some of the things I thought it was. There was drama, and there was intrigue. There was a charmingly unique world. But most of all, there was a beautiful, crazy-good-chemistry, make-your-heart-melt-and-ache love story. AND I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

Random end note: I may be the only person this happens to, but after I've watched a film/series where the people have British accents, sometimes my inner monologue/thoughts will pick up that accent for a short period of time. I've never had it happen with books before, but it happened a little with this book. Some words had a slight brogue when I thought them, and I used tons of Scottish contractions in my head the way Gabaldon wrote them (like "doesna" and "havena" instead of "doesn't" and "haven't"). WEIRD, I KNOW. But it totally happened, for the last couple days toward the end of the week I spent reading it.

PS! For those of you who donna don't know, there's a read-a-long of Outlander in June hosted over at The Reading Housewives! I would highly suggest checking it out if you're interested. I'm sure it's going to be a blast! If I had not read the book so recently, I would be joining myself. In fact, I might drop by for discussion from time to time just because I can. I do love talking about this book, as evidenced by this review (and trust me, there was way, way more).

Good gracious. Apparently I was feeling verbose today. If you actually made it through all that, let me know! I'll be sure to give you an interweb high five!

❝Getting up once in the dark to go adventuring is a lark. Twice in two days smacks of masochism.❞

❝No wonder he was so good with horses, I thought blearily, feeling his fingers rubbing gently behind my ears, listening to the soothing, incomprehensible speech. If I were a horse, I’d let him ride me anywhere.❞

(Okay, I know that's not how it was meant, but tell me I'm not the only one who just about died laughing.)

❝Not for the first time, I reflected that intimacy and romance are not synonymous.❞

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Review: Because You're Mine by Lisa Kleypas

Title: Because You're Mine (Capitol Theatre #2)
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Published: September 1997 (Avon)
Summary: Lady Madeline Matthews would rather shame herself than sacrifice her freedom—which is why, to avoid a marriage to an aging, lecherous lord, she seeks out the company of Logan Scott. A torrid affair with the notorious womanizer would surely condemn her in the eyes of good society. Though a legend in the bedchamber, Logan is, in truth, an intensely private man tormented by past betrayals. Now a forward little minx is disrupting his life with her vibrant charm and unspoiled beauty, a high-spirited enchantress completely at sea in London’s sophisticated whirl. But when what begins with a kiss threatens to blossom into something more rapturous and real, will Logan and Madeline have the courage to drop the masks they hide behind in the name of love?

My Review: Because You're Mine by Lisa Kleypas and I had a rather tumultuous relationship. There were things I loved about it, and there were things about which I was not particularly fond.

First of all, the book is split up into two sections, both by setting and situation, and the split happens around the halfway mark. The first half of the book or so was fantastic! I absolutely adored the Capitol Theatre setting. The secondary characters that inhabited the theatre were fun and creative, and I truly felt like I was in a theatre in the 1800's. I loved the whole experience of it, every single second. I also enjoyed that Maddy was the one actively pursuing Logan; it made for a nice change of pace. I feel like I haven't read a lot of those.

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the narrator. My consumption of this book was split up around 1/3 audiobook, 2/3 reading. I'm very picky about my narrators, but the narrator, Rosalyn Landor, was great! It makes me super happy that she has recorded several other Kleypas books, and I will probably be checking those out in the future, once I go back to school and listen to more audiobooks again.

Although some people apparently seem to disagree, I really liked Maddy. She had a genuinely sweet and caring nature, but not the type that made me want to gag uncontrollably. And Logan. One thing I particularly adored about this book was the whole "Hero doesn't want to want the heroine (but totally does anyway)" trope. LOVE, LOVE, SO MUCH LOVE. I have such a weakness for these stories. They tend to go along with super-duper explosive chemistry in the build-up, which is one of my favorite elements in romances.

There were a few little things I wasn't particularly crazy about. If I read one more "Save him, God, and I'll ________," plot, I will chuck the book across the room. I've never liked that, and it seems to be appearing everywhere lately. I don't appreciate it. However, my main problem was with this next scene.

WARNING: SPOILERS AND EXPLICIT CONTENT AHEAD.

Review: Scandalous by Karen Robards

Title: Scandalous
Author: Karen Robards
Published: January 2003 (Pocket)
Summary: When Lady Gabriella Banning receives word that her half-brother, the Earl of Wickham, has died on his tea plantation in Ceylon, she faces the reality that she and her younger sisters, Claire and Elizabeth, are suddenly penniless. The family's riches will pass to the next male heir -- a distant cousin -- and the Banning sisters are doomed unless Gabby thinks fast. Which she does. Pretending that Marcus is still alive, Gabby arranges Claire's London season. She'll keep up the pretense just long enough for Claire to marry a fabulously wealthy nobleman. But when a handsome gentleman arrives at the door and claims to be Marcus, Gabby's plan backfires -- and soon London society is abuzz over the scandalous pair of "siblings" who appear to be falling in love....

My Review: I ran across Scandalous at our university used book sale a few months ago, read the summary, and was thoroughly intrigued. After all, you get the "pose as my girlfriend/boyfriend/fiancée" storyline all the time, but how often do the love interests pose as SIBLINGS? To my recollection, I've never read another book where that happened. But if you have a good one where they did, pretty please leave a comment, because I would love to read it. Anyway, suffice to say, I absolutely had to pick it up.

Sadly, Scandalous did not quite live up to the expectations set forth by the awesome premise. I felt like there were way too many details, especially toward the beginning; they really bogged down the writing, not allowing the pace of the story to flow. It took a while for anything to actually happen to grab my interest, besides the little snippet at the very beginning. Once they actually met, though, I enjoyed the story more. The way the "posing as siblings" aspect came about was interesting, although it was not nearly as prominent as it was supposed to be. The vast majority of the book takes place inside the house due to medical circumstances.

There was an interesting sidestory that added a bit of mystery and suspense to the book, but it was kept down to a good size. It was enough to stay intriguing, but not enough that it felt unnecessary or started to overtake the main plot. It also added some good drama when things came to a head.

I did like Gabby a lot! She was totally willing to take Marcus down a peg or two when needed. Which he definitely did sometimes. They had good chemistry, and I loved reading about them! They had a super cute story, and the end left me smiling.

Overall, I did like this book, although I wanted to like it a lot more than I actually did.


Purchase this book at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

Title: A Night to Surrender (Spindle Cove #1)
Author: Tessa Dare
Published: August 2011 (Avon)
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Spindle Cove is the destination of choice for certain types of well-bred young ladies: the painfully shy, young wives disenchanted with matrimony, and young girls too enchanted with the wrong men; it is a haven for those who live there. Victor Bramwell, the new Earl of Rycliff, knows he doesn't belong here. So far as he can tell, there's nothing in this place but spinsters... and sheep. But he has no choice, he has orders to gather a militia. It's a simple mission, made complicated by the spirited, exquisite Susanna Finch—a woman who is determined to save her personal utopia from the invasion of Bram's makeshift army. Susanna has no use for aggravating men; Bram has sworn off interfering women. The scene is set for an epic battle...but who can be named the winner when both have so much to lose?


THIS BOOK. Oh my gosh, you guys. I cannot even tell you the last time I laughed this hard at a historical romance (and not in a bad way, just to be clear). Historical British humor is extremely difficult to convey. It is a subtle art, and not many authors have ever captured it in a way that seems authentic. It is either too understated or obscure, or the humor conveys a much more contemporary tone. I don't know how she did it, but Dare avoided this trap, and she did so tremendously. From the first page to the last, I seemed to laugh every other page. Yet A Night to Surrender was so much more than just humor.

Spindle Cove is such an original setting! I applaud Dare's imagination on this one. It is so different from the typical settings, but it is well thought out and completely believable. I am so excited to see what the rest of the series has in store.

The two mains were wonderful. Their banter was intelligent and funny, their chemistry tangible and smoldering. Speaking as a befreckled woman, I love that Susanna had more than just a "smattering across the bridge of her nose," as is so prevalent in the romance world. Bram was occasionally frustrating (as men are wont to be), but overall, I loved him.

I loved all the secondary characters! There were several of them, but they were all so colorful and interesting. I particularly loved one of them, and I had it in my head from the beginning that she should wind up with one of the secondary men. Lo and behold, they actually have a couple of scenes focused entirely on them toward the end of the book! I may have squealed and flailed a little. I'll never tell. Except that I totally did. In public.

Only one complaint: It contained a soldier saying "I'll make men of them." Cue me internally belting "I'LL. MAKE A MAN. OUT OF YOUUU!" for the next 24 hours. I do love that song, but it was rather distracting.

Quotes!

❝Susanna could have gleefully crushed its pages to powder with a mortar and pestle, labeled the vial with a skull and crossbones, and placed it on the highest shelf in her stillroom, right beside the dried foxglove leaves and deadly nightshade berries.❞

(Robinson Crusoe, anyone? Or your own personal book that you loathed like no other.)

❝Rather like the refrain of a song. A cheerful, stubborn sort of song. The sort of tune that persisted, dug a trench in a person’s mind and kept merrily chirping there for hours, days…even when that person would rather be rid of it. Even when that person would slice off his own great toe just to turn his attention to something, anything else.❞

(Ha! Oh, the irony.)

❝Where two or more ladies are gathered, there will be food.❞

❝But when seduction is your aim, you can’t go wrong with alabaster orbs.❞

❝Excellent vintage. Makes me sound almost intelligent.❞

❝Only a man could be so unkempt and manage to look more endearingly handsome than ever.❞

A Night to Surrender is a marvelously entertaining and romantic way to spend your time. I would definitely recommend it.

Endnote: I GOT #2 IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY. I am physically forcing myself to finish my other book today so I can read it. I can't wait!


Purchase this book at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: Unraveled by Courtney Milan

Title: Unraveled (Turner #3)
Author: Courtney Milan
Published: December 2011 (Courtney Milan)
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Smite Turner is renowned for his single-minded devotion to his duty as a magistrate. But behind his relentless focus lies not only a determination to do what is right, but the haunting secrets of his past—secrets that he is determined to hide, even if it means keeping everyone else at arm’s length. Until the day an irresistible woman shows up as a witness in his courtroom…

Miranda Darling isn’t in trouble…yet. But she’s close enough that when Turner threatens her with imprisonment if she puts one foot wrong, she knows she should run in the other direction. And yet no matter how forbidding the man seems on the outside, she can’t bring herself to leave. Instead, when he tries to push her away, she pushes right back—straight through his famous self-control, and into the heart of the passion that he has long hidden away…


This is the first ebook I ever bought, and it was absolutely worth it! This trilogy just got a little bit better with each book! I enjoyed the others, but this was my favorite out of all three. I honestly think my favorite thing about Milan is her original characters. Particularly in Unclaimed and Unraveled, none of the characters were like any others I had read before. Smite specifically appealed to me.

I do not always go for the "severely damaged" hero, but Smite was different. He used everything that had happened in his past to his benefit. He was so unique in the way he dealt with things. I loved everything about him, from the Lord Justice side of him to his "sentimentality quota." I also loved the way Milan wrote him - he was not someone to be "fixed." That's not what Miranda was for. Miranda is a woman who loves Smite for himself, which is exactly what Smite needs.

[WARNING: Quote is spoilery] ❝“I was so hoping…” – “What? That he’d fall in love and turn into an ordinary man?” Miranda choked on the words. “Anyone who loved him would never want that. It would be like loving the ocean, but wishing it would change into a glass of water.”❞

I grew so attached to Miranda and Smite. I liked Miranda a lot, and we've already covered how much I adored Smite. I loved watching him progress as a character, seeing him fight against his growing feelings for Miranda. Their relationship was such a marvelous thing to watch unfold. I was also captivated by the relationship between Smite and his brothers, Mark in particular. There were several times when I nearly teared up from their interactions. The Turner family is so unique, and seeing them learn how to be a family after everything that had happened was so touching. It made my heart happy.

Quotes:

❝Never had one little punctuation mark mattered so much.❞

❝I don’t believe I would like you half so well if you weren’t sarcastic.❞

❝It was almost enough to make a man think sentimental thoughts. Almost.❞

I normally do not specify if a historical is part of a series; everything is part of a "series" nowadays. However, I would very much suggest that you read these in order. The relationship between the brothers is complex, and the things we learn of their past are revealed gradually throughout all three. Plus, they're all fantastic! It is certainly no hardship to read them all.


Purchase this book at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

Title: Unclaimed (Turner #2)
Author: Courtney Milan
Published: September 2011 (HQN Books)
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Handsome, wealthy and respected, Sir Mark Turner is the most sought-after bachelor in all of London—and he's known far and wide for his irreproachable character. But behind his virtuous reputation lies a passionate nature he keeps carefully in check...until he meets the beautiful Jessica Farleigh, the woman he's waited for all his life. But Jessica is a courtesan, not the genteel lady Sir Mark believes. Desperate to be free of a life she despises, she seizes her chance when Mark's enemies make her an offer she can't refuse: seduce Mark and tarnish his good name, and a princely sum will be hers. Yet as she comes to know the man she's sworn to destroy, Jessica will be forced to choose between the future she needs…and the love she knows is impossible.


I first heard about this book when it was the pick for the Sizzling Book Club at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. I made a note that I wanted to read it because I was interested in the premise (and, of course, the lovely cover). However, I did not get around to it until a few months later. I decided to read the series in order, starting with Unveiled, which I already reviewed here. I enjoyed Unveiled, but I found to my slight dismay that the most interesting character was only a lowly brother of the hero, and, as a grown male virgin, would probably never have a book of his own. Then, lo and behold, I looked at the summary for Unclaimed again...and proceeded to do such a flail!dance as you have never seen before.

Let me reiterate this. Sir Mark Turner is a fully grown man. And a virgin. By choice. I have never read a historical romance (or of any subgenre, actually) where this was the case. I was immediately fascinated by Mark and his choices, his reasoning, and the public's reaction to him and his book. Having never read a book where a courtesan (or former courtesan) was the heroine, I was also wondering how it would be handled. Milan did a fantastic job with them both. I felt the book lost a little of its magic for the last quarter or so, but it was still thoroughly enjoyable.

One of my favorite things in this book was the emphasis on honesty, particularly in regards to Mark. It made for some tremendous interactions, particularly in the beginning of the book when Mark and Jessica were getting to know each other.

❝It’s what I like best about you – your willingness to insult me to my face.❞

Oh! And another of my favorite things. Upon inspection of the cover, you will find a large, not-particularly-aesthetically-pleasing ring on the hero's finger. I noticed this when I first picked up the book, thought it a bit odd, but did not dwell on it. But get this: the ring actually exists! In the book! Far from the famous use of the flawless cover!hero to represent the horribly scarred story!hero, the cover for this book actually matches the story. I may be unreasonably excited about this, but I really think it warrants mention.

I enjoyed Milan's writing style. She had fantastic inner narration for both Jessica and Mark, and their dialogue was sharp, honest, witty, and fraught with sexual tension. Unclaimed had some particularly great quotes, from hilarious to insightful to emotionally moving.

❝No man with a moustache like that should ever try to look innocent.❞

❝Oh, the subtlety of a randy teenager.❞

❝I can’t stop worrying just because someone assures me it’s unnecessary.❞

❝“You’ve always been your own knight,” he said, “riding to your rescue. I’m just the man who came along and saw how brightly your armor shown.”❞

*recovers from swooning*

Courtney Milan is quickly becoming one of my auto-buy (or at least auto-put-on-hold-at-the-library...I am a broke college student, after all) authors. Her writing is stellar, her characters truly original, and I like supporting her.


Purchase this book at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: Unveiled by Courtney Milan

Title: Unveiled (Turner #1)
Author: Courtney Milan
Published: January 2011 (HQN Books)
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Ash Turner has waited a lifetime to seek revenge on the man who ruined his family--and now the time for justice has arrived. At Parford Manor, he intends to take his place as the rightful heir to the dukedom and settle an old score with the current duke once and for all. But instead he finds himself drawn to a tempting beauty who has the power to undo all his dreams of vengeance...

Lady Margaret knows she should despise the man who's stolen her fortune and her father's legacy--the man she's been ordered to spy on in the guise of a nurse. Yet the more she learns about the new duke, the less she can resist his smoldering appeal. Soon Margaret and Ash find themselves torn between old loyalties--and the tantalizing promise of passion...

My Review: It's been a while since I read this, and I did not take a whole lot of notes. I will do my best to remember, though. Unveiled was a great read. I like fake identity stories when they are well written, and this one was. It was my first Courtney Milan, and I am excited to read more from her. In fact, I am extraordinarily excited to read Unclaimed. That (well, along with the pretty cover and the amazing quote from Everything I Know About Love I Learned from Romance Novels) was actually why I read this one; it came before the other. I usually don't care in historical "series" where the order doesn't really matter. But I did it this time, anyway. I'm so glad I did! I was thoroughly intrigued by Mark and seriously hoping he got his own book. Then I re-read the summary for Unclaimed and just about died. If Milan pulls it off, it could be absolutely amazing. Cannot wait for it to come in at the library! But back to Unveiled.

There were several fantastic, unique aspects to this book. It was very nice to see a heroine who notices and is affected by the hero's looks, but is not overcome by them. I had not realized how refreshing it would be, actually. Margaret was attracted to Ash from the first, but she was still able to keep her wits about her. It made for much better banter, as well.

The story had a lot to do with family. Both Ash and Margaret dealt a lot with their loyalty to their respective brothers. This is actually where a lot of the conflict and tension stems from in the book.

Oh, I also noted in my notes (ha) that it was funny that I abandoned You Against Me for this, and they wound up having similar premises. However, while I was not feeling You Against Me, Unveiled caught me right away. It had real problems and great chemistry and emotions, but it never got overly sappy. It was a very good read, and I am looking forward to the next one!

I will leave you with the awesome quote that caught my attention and made me want to read it:

❝"Do you know why my peers want their brides to have pale skin?"

"Why?"

"They want a woman who is a canvas, white and empty. Standing still, existing for no other purpose than to serve as a mute object onto which they can paint their own hopes and desires. They want their brides veiled. They want a demure, blank space they can fill with whatever they desire. ...Damn their bonnets. Damn their rules."

"What do you want? Why are you doing this to me?"

"Miss Lowell, you magnificent creature, I want you to paint your own canvas. I want you to unveil yourself."❞

Review: Last Night's Scandal by Loretta Chase

Title: Last Night's Scandal
Author: Loretta Chase
Published: July 2010 (Avon)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Summary: After surviving the perils of Egypt, Peregrine Dalmay, Earl of Lisle, is back in London, facing the most dire threat of all: his irrational family . . . and Miss Olivia Wingate-Carsington. A descendant of notorious—but very aristocratic—swindlers, the delectable redhead has the ability to completely unhinge him and a long history of dragging him into her scandalous schemes.

Olivia may be Society's darling, but she's aware a respectable future looms menacingly. And so when Lisle is forced to go on a family mission, she sees this as the perfect chance for one last adventure—even if it is with the one man in the world she can't wrap around her finger. But really, she only wants to help . . .

Which is why Lisle and Olivia find themselves in a gloomy Scottish castle inhabited by spiteful ghosts and craven murderers . . . and a shocking secret: the greatest peril of all may be burning within their own stubborn hearts.

My Review: Lisle and Olivia first appear as children in Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase, which I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed. When I discovered that these two had their own book, I obviously needed to read it immediately. Which I did, through car rides, bad concerts (well, only one concert, really), and numerous distractions, courtesy of my much beloved little sister. How did I like the book? Well, it didn't quite live up to my expectations, but it didn't disappoint, either. I really liked it.

First of all, I would like to talk about the characters. While you do not by any means have to read Lord Perfect first, I would recommend it. I loved getting a look at their personalities there because it made me appreciate them in this book so much more. They stayed true to the personalities established in the first book, while still developing over the decade that passed between the two. Olivia was such an original, quirky, and lovable character. I have seen such characters attempted before, but she is the only one that actually seemed natural and genuine, as if she were a person I could have run into at the supermarket rather than a figment of an author's imagination. As for Lisle, he was slightly less original, I suppose, but no less wonderful. I always adore the logical hero, and Lisle was, nearly to a fault. But it worked for him. It was endearing, really, and it balanced with Olivia's wild and impulsive personality perfectly. Oh, and a review of this book would not be complete without mentioning their chaperons. The two older women were bawdy and inappropriate and altogether hilarious; I always laughed when there was a scene with them.

Review: Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas

Backlog review. Originally read/reviewed July 2011.


Title: Suddenly You
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Published: 2001 (Avon)

Rating: 3 stars

Summary: She was unmarried, untouched and almost thirty, but novelist Amanda Briars wasn't about to greet her next birthday without making love to a man. When he appeared at her door, she believed he was her gift to herself, hired for one night of passion. Unforgettably handsome, irresistibly virile, he tempted her in ways she never thought possible, but something stopped him from completely fulfilling her dream.

Jack Devlin's determination to possess Amanda became greater when she discovered his true identity. But gently bred Amanda craved respectability more than she admitted, while Jack, the cast-off son of a nobleman and London's most notorious businessman, refused to live by society's rules. Yet when fate conspired for them to marry, their worlds collided with a passionate force neither had expected. . . but both soon craved.

My Review:
 **This review includes spoilers.**

I have very mixed feelings about this book.  It started out intriguingly, with the heroine hiring a male prostitute for her thirtieth birthday because she wanted to lose her virginity.  That pretty much set the tone for the entire novel: unique, as well as sensual.