I’m reviewing The Gentleman’s Keeper by Bonnie Dee at Smexybooks

The Gentleman’s Keeper by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon
Historical Romance Contemporary/MM
July 9, 2013
Samhain Publishing

 

Favorite Quote: “No pretend son of his was going to go through life unwanted or unloved.“

Everett Gerard left home as a young man and never returned. He has spent many years traveling, burying himself in a haze of alcohol and sex. When he finally rouses himself to read the many letters his bailiff has been sending to him for months; telling him of a young boy who is claiming Everett is his father, he travels to his estate to see for himself. Once Everett sees the boy, there is no doubt he’s a Gerard but he knows for fact the boy is not his. Gerard figures he will deal with the boy and the abbey, then head back to London. But he never figured on Miles Kenway.

Miles Kenway, the Abbey bailiff,  loves his job and the estate. A man who has never been content to stay in one area for long, he finds himself settling and wanting to bring the Abbey back to its former glory. When a young boy appears at the Abbey, claiming Everett Gerard is his father, Miles finds himself at wits end trying to keep the boy from destroying the estate with his pranks and wild mischief. When Everett finally appears, Miles is both elated and unsettled by his attraction to Everett.

As Miles and Everett circle each other and their forbidden desires, unsure how to circumvent the delicate balance between master and servant, they find they must unite when the boy’s real father appears and threatens everything they have have.

Read more of my review at Smexybooks.

I’m reviewing If He’s Tempted by Hannah Howell at Smexybooks

 

If He’s Tempted (Wherlocke #5) by Hannah Howell
Historical Paranormal Romance
April 2, 2013
Zebra

Favorite Quote: “I ache. I want. I remember every touch, every kiss, and want more.”

Lady Olympia Wherlocke has never made a promise she couldn’t…wouldn’t keep, so when a young girl comes to her in desperation, Olympia promises to do anything and everything to help her. Lady Agatha Mallam’s mother is trying to sell her into marriage to a much older man who is rumored to have sadistic tendencies and an unfortunate incurable ailment. Only her brother, the Earl, has the power to stop their mother but he has buried himself in the country and refuses to answer her letters.

Lord Brant Mallam has spent the last few years drowning his grief in sex and spirits over his beloved fiancée’s death. When Lady Olympia comes sweeping into his home, relaying his mother’s nefarious plans, Brant knows the time has finally come to put an end to his mother’s schemes once and for all.

As Olympia and Brant work towards repairing Brant’s reputation and helping Agatha, they ferret out more of his mother’s schemes and soon discover the true nature of her plans. Plans that spell disaster and possible death for them all.

If He’s Tempted is the fifth installment of Ms. Howell’s Wherlocke series. A dark and gritty historical romance that mixes a batch of love, humor, revenge, and redemption into a volatile potent. Action and suspense go hand in hand as two damaged yet repairable people come together to stop a mad women from further ruining their lives and the lives of those they love. I would like to point out this can be read as a stand alone and you do not have to read the others in order to appreciate this story.

 

Read the rest of my review at Smexybooks.

I’m reviewing Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan at Smexy Books

 

Winterblaze (Darkest London #3) by Kristen Callihan
Paranormal Historical Romance
February 26, 2013

Favorite Quote: “My life began with you.“

Poppy Lane thought she was doing the right thing when she kept the secrets her mother forced upon her growing up. When her husband is brutally attacked, she is forced to reveal her secrets and the consequences may be more than she can bear.

Winston Lane has loved Poppy from the first moment he saw her striding through the train station. Fourteen years of marriage has only deepened his love for her, but when he discovers that his wife has been living a secret life apart from him, he’s devastated at her betrayal and leaves her in anger.

After three months of separation, Poppy receives a note from an old enemy that hints at retribution through Winston. She swallows her pride and goes to him, intent on keeping him safe and attempting a reconciliation. But Winston isn’t ready to forgive Poppy. And when more secrets come to light, Poppy isn’t altogether sure he should.

Winterblaze is the third installment in Callihan’s Darkest London series. A dark, sensuous, paranormal romance whose world is built upon the past, set in Victorian England. Heavily character driven, it’s the sensuous evolution of our protagonists and the plot lines that make this series such a fascinating journey. Smooth writing and sharp descriptive detailing drew me in as Callihan further explores and reveals the supernatural wonders of her world. I continue to be impressed by the time and effort Callihan takes in developing her characters and their connections to the world and each other. Each new book offers more evidence of the ties that bind them all together. I don’t recommend reading this as a stand alone. Though each book revolves around a main hero and heroine and has a resolvable conflict, the longstanding arc continues to develop in each new story and the characters bleed over. (The first two books, Firelight and Moonglow are just as good)

Read the rest of my review at SmexyBooks.

I’m reviewing Angel’s End by Cindy Holby at Smexybooks

Angel’s End by Cindy Holby
Historical Romance
Paperback
May 1, 2012
Penguin

Favorite Quote: “The man definitely needs some pants.“

Cade Gentry is a gunfighter. His brutal childhood led him into a life of crime and he despairs at ever achieving forgiveness in God’s or his own eyes. The victim of a double cross and left for dead in the middle of nowhere, he stumbles across a preacher who is headed towards his new congregation in Angel’s End. When the preacher is killed by a bullet meant for Cade, he decides this may be God’s way of opening a new door for him and trades identities with the preacher in hopes of hiding himself. He arrives at Angel’s End half dead and is rescued by the sheriff's widow, Leah Findley. Leah nurses him back to health, caught between the memories of her love for her husband and the strong attraction she feels for this “handsome” preacher. As Cade begins to recover, he and Leah form a tentative bond despite his deception. Cade falls in love with Leah and vice versa. When Cade finally decides to leave Leah and the town, in hopes of avoiding trouble, we find out that trouble has found him and is holding the town hostage. Cade stays to fight and reveals to the town and Leah who and what he really is. It’s only when God sends him another message does Cade return to Angel’s End and accept his redemption.

Angel’s End is a sweet, lightweight, historical romance about a lawless hero, a beautiful lonely heroine, and a small western town that offers redemption The storyline reads like an adult rated episode of Little House On The Prairie. Yes, it was that nice. A nice predictable plot balances well within a smooth flowing storyline and dialogue. Engaging characters offer insight, background, and humor to the story. Even at 300 pages, it reads extremely fast. Religion plays a large part of the storyline. That put me off a little, only because the book blurb doesn’t hint at the strong Christian undertones we see in here.

 

 

Read the rest of my review at Smexybooks.

I’m reviewing Cloudy With a Chance of Marriage by Kieran Kramer at Smexy Books

Favorite Quote: “She wouldn’t have appreciated Pride and Prejudice…. I’m saving it for someone who has spirit, style, and good looks.”

Cloudy With A Chance Of Marriage is a fun quirky historical romance who’s rambunctious characters and exasperated situations only add to the over all appeal. Smoothly written with a predictable plot line, I found myself nether less captivated by the protagonist’s, Jilly and Stephan. Their delightful flirtatious banter sets the tone of the story as we are introduced to the residents of Dreare street.

 

Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books.