When You Give a Duke a Diamond (Jewels of the Ton , #1) by Shana Galen

HE HAD A PERFECTLY ORDERLY LIFE...
William, the sixth Duke of Pelham, enjoys his punctual. securely structured life. Orderly and predictable—that's the way he likes it. But he's in the public eye, and the scandal sheets will make up anything to sell papers. When the gossips link him to Juliette, one of the most beautiful and celebrated courtesans in London, chaos doesn't begin to describe what happens next...

UNTIL SHE CAME ALONG...
Juliette is nicknamed the Duchess of Dalliance, and has the cream of the nobility at her beck and call. It's seriously disruptive to have the duke who's the biggest catch on the Marriage Mart scaring her other suitors away. Then she discovers William's darkest secret and decides what he needs in his life is the kind of excitement only she can provide...

5/5 stars

So the reason for the 5 star rating is because this was a completely different approach to the historical romance genre. Instead of the young girl making her entrance into the ton and being seduced/bartered off/caught with the rake of the ton this book changed it up by having the lead female being a well-known courtesan of the ton and the male lead was a man with little experience with that type of woman. Of course the two get thrown together by a series of small misfortunes by which without we'd have no book.

I really liked both MCs and thought they made a really good match. Juliette is exactly what Will needed to shake-up his very structured life. With her he found a partner to stand up to him, brighten up his day and love him unconditionally. She found the stability she needed and the promise of a family she craved. I also liked the secondary characters and can't wait to read their stories.

Anyone who loves historical romance knows Ms. Galen and knows she can write one hell of a book and this new series is no exception. Give it a try...you'll be glad you did.

The Demoness of Waking Dreams by Stephanie Chong

Even ANGELS can be tough... Ex-cop Brendan Clarkson is an angel with an edge. His tough exterior is the perfect camouflage for his job-hunting down the most dangerous criminals on earth. Brendan's a self-reliant and demanding lone wolf, constantly on the brink of clashing with his superiors at the Company of Angels. Brendan is the perfect angel to track and capture demoness Luciana Rossetti. Luciana's cool, green-eyed beauty masks her true nature: inside, she's a dangerous and malevolent killer. Yet, she sees what most people don't-that beneath the layers of Brendan's rugged shell beats the heart of a passionate lover. They are perfectly matched. Yin and yang. Angel and demon. Man and woman. But only one of them can win the battle of wills, of strength and of desire.





4/5 stars

I started reading this book and quickly realized that this was book 2 of a series (if you've ever read any of my reviews you know I do this quite often). So, to get the full effect of the story I put this one down and downloaded the first book, Where Demons Fear to Tread, and read it and I'm very happy I did. I got more of a sense of how deliciously wicked Luciana Rossetti really is. And in the first book she is an evil bitch, there's really no other way to say it. I wasn't sure I was going to like this book but then in walks Brendan Clarkson, an angel who is definitely a little rougher then the rest with his bad-boy attitude and all those yummy tattoos. The two MCs certainly made a great match both being able to see something in each other that no one else could. I also liked the location of this book, Venice, and felt the descriptions of that city were pretty good. I've never been to Venice, but I could actually see what she was writing about.

The one thing I didn't like about this book was the way it ended. I understand it was done that way to set-up the next book in the series, but I felt as if I was just left hanging for the next 6-12 months (or however long it takes for the book to be published). I can't think of a way to write about the ending without giving spoilers so I'll just say that I like for one story to be finished before I read the next, because I read so many books that unless the book is outstanding I tend to forget details between one book and the next. That being said I would still recommend this book to anyone wanting a change in the normal paranormal romance genre.

A Season for Sin by Vicky Dreiling

Introducing the Sinful Scoundrels...

The Earl of Bellingham is nothing is not a creature of habit: money, meals, and mistresses must be strictly managed if a man is to have a moment's peace. It's a system that works splendidly for him--until now. With his oldest and dearest friends succumbing, one by one, to wedded bliss, Bell is now restless and a trifle lonely. Enter the Sinful Scoundrels--Colin Brockhurst, Earl of Ravenshire, and Harry Norcliffe, Viscount Evermore--who drag him back into society and draw his rakish eye to the ton's new beautiful young widow. Bell isn't after a wife, but a challenge. And Laura Davenport should fit the bill quite nicely...



3/5 stars

When I started reading this I thought it was the first in a new spin-off series, but I was wrong. It's actually just a tease for the first book. The novella introduces you to the two MCs from the upcoming book, What A Wicked Earl Wants, but in this you get a little more of a back story of the Earl of Bellingham (Bell to his friends) and how he meets his two new friends and how he comes to know of the new widow in town. You also meet said widow, Laura Davenport, who is raising her 17 year old stepson. The two don't even meet til the last 2/3 of the novella, but it does promise to be quite the story when you can already see the sparks fly between them. Hopefully I won't have to wait to long for the series to start because this novella did it's job and whetted my appetite for the first book.

The Uninvited (Krewe of Hunters #8) by Heather Graham

1777: In the throes of the Revolutionary War, Landon Mansion is commandeered by British Lord "Butcher" Bedford. He stabs Lucy Tarleton—who spurned his king and his love—leaving her to die in her father's arms.NOW: After the day's final tour, docent Allison Leigh makes her rounds while locking up…and finds a colleague slumped over Bedford's desk, impaled on his own replica bayonet.

Resident ghosts may be the stock-in-trade of stately Philadelphia homes, but Allison—a noted historian—is indignant at the prospect of "ghost hunters" investigating this apparent murder.

Agent Tyler Montague knows his hauntings and his history. But while Allison is skeptical of the newcomer, a second mysterious murder occurs. Has "Butcher" Bedford resurfaced? Or is there another malevolent force at work in Landon Mansion? Wary, yet deeply attracted, Allison has to trust in Tyler and work with him to discover just what uninvited guest—dead or alive—has taken over the house.

Or their lives could become history!

3.5/5 stars

I love history especially history pertaining to America and how we came to be. So, while this book was fiction it did have a lot of history about the occupation of Philadelphia by the British during the Revolution. I found it intriguing how Ms. Graham mixed the story of a young patriot woman, Lucy Tarleton, with the murders of several people that occurred in present time in her house. The storyline was interesting enough to keep you guessing while also watching the two MCs growing attraction towards each other. Though I didn't really think the ending was all that great. It just seemed the person responsible and the reason didn't make much sense to me considering there was nothing to be gained one way or the other. It also didn't explain how he knew the things he knew and everything was wrapped up way to quick, it was like "here is what happened and here is the clean-up". This was actually the first book of the series I've read and it did make me put the rest of the series in my TBR pile since a couple of the characters have already had their stories told. I didn't feel as if I was missing any kind of recurring storyline so it can be read as a stand-alone novel. All in all I found it a very enjoyable book and think fans of romantic suspense would find it enjoyable as well.

Men of Smithfield: Mark and Tony by L.B. Gregg

Coming home from work to find my boyfriend banging our hairy, married landlord--in our bed--was bad enough. Discovering Jamie had also cleaned out my bank accounts made it officially the worst day of my life. I think I can be forgiven for wanting revenge, even if a few little laws (and possibly Jamie's nose) got bent in the process.

Fortunately, the law is on my side in the form of my oldest friend, Tony Gervase. I've tried to deny my attraction to the sexy trooper for years. After all, he made it clear long ago that he wasn't interested in me that way. But if the hot encounter in his kitchen is any indication, he is now. At least the day is ending a whole lot better than it began...

But the morning after, the Jamie situation goes from bad to seriously messed up. The jerk's in more trouble than I could have imagined. And as it turns out, I don't know Tony as well as I thought I did either...

4.5/5 stars

I had this book sitting in my TBR pile for quite awhile now and just kept putting off reading it for some reason or another. Well, having gotten the chance to read it from Netgalley I decided the time was at hand and I'm so glad I did. From the opening paragraph I just knew this book was going to be a book to keep and reread many times. Mark comes home early and finds his boyfriend cheating and instead of confronting them then he holds it in until he can come to grips with it. Unfortunately when he does decide to confront the boyfriend its in front of God and everybody, literally. He then turns to Tony, his friend of many years, though they have been estranged for a few months. Tony tries his best to help Mark out of all the trouble he seems to have gotten himself involved in. This was a great story with humor, love and coming to terms with secrets. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and hope they all live up to the standard of this one.

Moonglow (Darkest London #2) by Kristen Callihan

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .

Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

5/5 stars

This was the second book in a series set in London in the 1880's about a group of unusual sisters. I read the first book and was instantly taken in by the world that was created so when I saw Netgalley had the second one up I was so excited to read it.

This book was about Daisy, the middle sister, who has recently finished her period of mourning for her much older husband. She was looking for a bit of excitement at a friend's party and ends up in a mess she wasn't ready for and a man she wasn't expecting. Ian helps her after her attack and decides that keeping her safe has become the most important thing to him. Too bad she doesn't make it easy on him.

I loved this book and all the characters in it. We were introduced to a new type of supernatural, Ghost-in-the-Machine, and of course revisited a few from the last book. I loved the romance between Daisy and Ian and all the action (in and out of the carriage) was top-notch. I also liked the little peek into the relationship of Winston and Poppy and am eagerly waiting on their book.

Hell on Wheels (Black Knights, Inc #1) by Julie Ann Walker

He’s the bad boy she’s always wanted...

Nate “Ghost” Weller has loved Ali Morgan nearly half his life. But he’s done something so heinous he’s convinced she’ll never forgive him if she discovers the truth, so he keeps his feelings and his secrets to himself. Then she blows into town with a mother lode of bad guys on her tail and Nate can’t deny she’s in serious trouble. Unfortunately, he’s the only one who can help her.

She’s the good girl he’s kept at arm’s length...

Ali knows Nate as the most solemn, aloof man on the planet. Sadly, he’s also the sexiest. For years she’s avoided him, unable to stomach his dark scowls and brooding silences… especially when she secretly yearns for his touch. Now she must rely on him to save her from the malevolent shadows ghosting her every move. When the bullets explode, so does their passion. But can love really conquer all? Or are some things just too terrible to forgive?

4.5/5 stars

This book had just about everything I like in my romance books. There was the tortured (literally) hero, shady characters, covert organization, a heroine who comes into her own along the way and hot sexual tension. This was a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read the next book. Man, I felt so sad for Nate and what he had to do and all those feelings he kept bottled up inside himself. Thank goodness for Ali and the relief she brought him even if he did fight himself and believe he didn't deserve her. That is what kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning that push/pull between Nate and Ali and the dynamic relationship of Becky And Frank (can't wait for their book, In Rides Trouble). Even the secondary characters were well developed and interesting enough to want to read more about them. Though there was a part towards the end that I totally wasn't expecting and had me tearing up. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes their romance books suspenseful and sexy.

The Darkest Day (Immortal Heat #1) by Britt Bury

ALL-CONSUMING DESIRE . . .

Izel Campbell was raised to believe she is an immortal Fionn with the magical skills of persuasion. But when she travels to Scotland to visit her ancestral home, Izel discovers that she is actually the world's last living human. Forced to run for her life, Izel crosses paths with Kelvin Kerr, the Campbells' greatest foe-and the most magnificent warrior she has ever seen.
BURNS BRIGHTEST . . .

A thousand-year-old battle chief of the Kerr clan, Kelvin lives only to avenge his father, who died at the hands of the bloody Campbells. Honor demands he kill the Campbell heir, but when he learns that the lovely Izel is both Campbell "and" human, Kelvin is torn between duty and desire . . .

ON" THE DARKEST DAY"

3.5/5 stars
3.5 stars

This book really confused me because I have no idea what the characters are. There is a glossary in the back, but it really doesn't explain the terms. For example for the terms Fionn and Pookah it only list the three caste for each not what an actual Fionn (magic user?) or Pookah (shifter that doesn't shift?) are suppose to be. There were other creatures such as the Dryads, alps and Strigois that aren't really explained either. Maybe it will explain in the next book.

The book is about two clans of immortal warriors that have been at war with each other for over a thousand years. Kelvin Kerr has sworn to kill the Campbell heir and sets out to do that very thing which is how he meets Izel. He quickly learns that though she is his enemy she is apparently also his mate. Instead of killing her he needs to get her to his family's stronghold to protect her and to figure out a few things, like where her grandfather is so he can finish his revenge.

Izel Campbell comes to Scotland after being summoned by here grandfather only to find herself facing a gorgeous man wanting her dead and changing in ways she never saw coming. While trekking across Scotland with said gorgeous man looking for her grandfather and other answers she finds herself falling in love for the first time.

The story was interesting enough to keep me reading even though I had trouble getting into it at first. But after getting use to the terms I found myself reading a little faster so I could figure out what was going to happen when they finally made it to the castle. The relationship between the two was filled with sexual tension and I loved every minute of it. I will definitely be watching for the next book in the series because this one had a lot of loose ends that I look forward to reading about.

Secret of the Wolf (Warriors of the Rift #2) by Cynthia Garner

Once a generation, the rift between the paranormal world and the human world opens, allowing supernatural entities to cross. Vampire, demon, or shapeshifter, they can save the world-or send it spiraling into chaos.

As a werewolf liaison to the Council of Preternaturals, Tori Joseph is used to straddling the world between humans and immortals. She plays by the rules and always delivers justice, no matter the cost. But after a string of increasingly brutal attacks results in humans turning into werewolves, Tori doesn't reveal her horrifying suspicion: Someone very close to her might be responsible.

Investigating the paranormal violence, no-nonsense detective Dante MacMillan believes Tori is hiding something. His search for the truth draws him into greater danger as he gets closer to the dark realm of the immortals-and to the sexy werewolf who stirs his primal lust. Now with evil closing in around them, Dante must convince Tori to trust him . . . before her deadly secret destroys them both.

4/5 stars
I was a little apprehensive about this book when I stared it because while I liked the first book in the series, Kiss of the Vampire, I was confused about the rift plot. I was hoping this book would explain the concept a little more, it did....and didn't. I like the characters that are in the series and find myself really wanting to know more about them. I'm still not sure how the soul picks it's form (werewolf, vampire, demon, elf ect. ect.).

Dante and Tori are a great couple. There was a real feel of sexual tension between the two that at times was kinda sweet. I mean who doesn't want a man that sacrifices his own feelings for yours? Thinking he doesn't have the time to give his complete attention to Tori because he's helping his sister he keeps her at arm's length only to realise that love doesn't go by a time table. Along with their budding romance they work together on the rift device and a case involving a rouge werewolf who might be closer then they expect.

I liked this book more then I thought I would and am looking forward to the next in the series which focuses on Finn, the demon. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a different take on the paranormal romance genre.