The Mad Lord's Daughter

                      by Jane Goodger

Locked away by her reclusive and intensely protective father, the recently deceased “Mad Lord of Northumberland,” Melissa is beautiful and educated but painfully naive about the real world—and the dark secrets of her birth. Now in the care of her uncle, the Earl of Braddock she must prepare to enter London society and find a proper husband, a task that grows complicated when she falls for the one man she can never have. Just as a promising new life begins to eclipse her tragic past, she'll find herself consumed by a forbidden love that could destroy it all…

Book reviewed by Valarie Pelissero

Melissa Atwell is twenty-three years old and hasn't left her suite of rooms in her home in Bamburgh since she was five. Melissa's father kept her a virtual prisoner in her rooms for fear of her catching something and dying. Oh, she had plenty of tutors and governesses, and lessons in all the proper etiquette one would need to navigate a London Season successfully, all within the confines of her room. Whenever her father would visit her he always wore gloves, her maid always wore gloves and made the barest contact necessary to assist Melissa. In reality she was locked away so that her true father would never learn of her.

Melissa is very happy in her life and she has no idea that she is a prisoner in her own home, until her father dies and her uncle, the Earl of Braddock comes to take her to his home, and to get her ready for the upcoming Season. The pity he and his son John show her make Melissa realize that she is different from everyone else. She has a hard time being around people, and she cringes whenever someone tries to touch her, even if just to take her hand.

Melissa's joy and wonder over every new experience, even falling into mud and getting dirty was a pleasure to watch. It makes you realize just how much we take for granted every day. Braddock accidentally discovers that Melissa's true father is a duke and when he informs Melissa that she is illegitimate it comes as no surprise to her as she knew her father wasn't her father. She is delighted to learn that she has a half-sister - at least she is delighted until Braddock and John inform her that no one can ever know she is illegitimate or no man will want to marry her. Melissa doesn't fully understand this logic but, she accepts it. It isn't until her two new “friends” start discussing old gossip that the veil is lifted from Melissa's eyes and she fully comprehends the gravity of her situation; that not only will no respectable man offer for her, but she would lose her friends as well. I felt so bad for Melissa at this point when the ugly truth intruded into her world and took away her ability to find joy in the smallest things.

I have not mentioned Melissa's love interest yet because this story truly is about Melissa. After her revelation about her circumstances she does accept the first man that offers for her, even though she does not love him. She accepts this man simply because the man she loves tells her time and again that they cannot be together, and she truly believes that it is because of the circumstances of her birth as she is never told otherwise. All the time she was engaged to this other man, no announcement is made, nor are papers signed, as the two get to know one another, and every time they were together and he corrected her or felt shame over her, my heart went out to her.

Melissa's love interest, of course, is just a dolt, who cannot tell her how he feels until it is almost too late, but he was the one who brightened her spirits every time she got down, and the one who helped her overcome the fears that had been ingrained into her since she was a child. Melissa was a brave heroine who faced her fears and overcame them with the help of the one who was always by her side.

Ms. Goodger has written another incredible story that will stick with me. Put The Mad Lord's Daughter on your summer reading list, it is a definite keeper. I can't wait to read Ms. Goodger's next book.

Rating: 

All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess

                                     by Alexandra Hawkins

Simon Jefferes, the Marquess of Sainthill, has done the unthinkable—he’s fallen in love. The so-called “Saint” has spent his life gambling, dallying with women, and satisfying his every whim. And he fully intended to continue his wicked ways, until he met the mysterious, exotic, and irresistible Madame Venna—the one woman he can’t have…and the only one he’s ever wanted for more than an evening.
The proprietress of the Golden Pearl, one of London’s most exclusive brothels, Madame Venna takes pride in the lush, decadent club she’s created. With a half-mask to conceal her identity, she’s careful to safeguard something even more valuable—her heart. But Saint is determined to tear down the walls she’s built around herself, and to finally expose the truth—that Madame Venna is a woman very much in love…with him.

Review as on Goodreads by♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡
Catherine has 2 lives. One as her quiet reserved unnoticed self & that of Madam Venna. Saint has been in love with her for 6 years & finally he has had it. He's going for it!

This was another great installment in this series, however, I felt it missed an entire chapter or 2 of family resolve at the end of this book. You were left wondering what happened to the a**holes that caused all the problems. Maybe it is planned to be resolved in the next book??

I would have given this book a 5 star rating if the other half of her so called family had been dealt with, but NOPE! Oh well!
Rating: 

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

 Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser

As the memory filtered in, she felt her stomach dip. He was about the last person she'd expect to see walk through the door.

~1% on Kindle " Wine and Roses " by Susan R. Hughes

Frostbite (Last Call #5)

                              by Moira Rogers

Kelsey Almeida has lived every one of her lifetimes in relative silence. Her voice is a lure, one that can overcome the strongest of wills. Magic has enabled the Siren to live a normal life...except when it comes to sex. When she's aroused, no charm can obscure the call of her voice.


Frostbite: Looking for a partner immune to supernatural seduction.

Nothing pierces the icy cool of Cain's armor. A reaper can't afford to be swayed by human emotions, even if he still has human needs. Kelsey's voice heats his blood, but it's the pleasure of unraveling her secrets that threatens to melt his self-control--and his heart.

Review as on Goodreads ♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡ 

This one was the best of all. It had an actual story with an actual ending. No wonder about it. Siren dates Death. Its 35 pages on a Nook, so I'm not going into a synopsis. Too much spoils it. It's worth the hour Max read!

5 stars rated against all of her stories, but really a 4 star read.
Rating:

Hurricane (Last Call #2)

                           by Moira Rogers

Artist and witch Fiona Logan hasn't had an orgasm since a bitter ex cursed her five years ago. Whenever she gets aroused, bad things happen. Now, she's come to Last Call in hopes of gaining an audience with--and help from--its owner, a powerful wizard named Benito D'Cruze. If anyone can break the curse, it's him. And if he won't come downstairs to meet with her, she'll bump and grind until his bar caves in from the backlash. Hurricane: Contents under magical pressure. Experience required. Ben doesn't get involved with patrons... not even the hot, sexually frustrated ones. But when a lush looking blonde threatens to wreck his bar with her curse and her need, he decides it's time to take matters--and her--into his own hands. After all, even if he can't break the curse, he can certainly ease her frustration. And what powerful wizard doesn't love a challenge?


Review as on Goodreads by ♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡

Again this was one that just ended. or I should I say I was left saying... HUH?

Witch walks into a bar... orders a hurricaine to break a touch curse. Only one man can handle it. Ben, the owner of the bar.

These stories are a cute novella, but they can have so much more & don't. You leave asking... so what happened to these people? BUT are left with a "maybe they stayed together??" Maybe not.
Rating:

Tequila Sunrise (Last Call #3)

                                                         by Moira Rogers

Werewolf Evelyn Smith loves her boyfriend, Kieran. Some people find it odd that an alpha female would choose a weaker mate, but Evelyn is willing to ignore her occasional cravings for submission when the reward is a fulfilling life with a man who loves her. Kieran Rhys doesn't mind the mocking jibes of his pack, but knowing the woman he loves has needs he can't meet drives him crazy. After months of coaxing, he's finally convinced Evelyn to accompany him to Last Call. If he can't give his lover what she needs, he'll find someone to help him. Tequila Sunrise: Looking for domination. Unrequited love has been hard on Zack Elliott. Even if the object of his desire returned his feelings, she's a fragile human whose body couldn't withstand the force of his needs. Evelyn and Kieran seem like the perfect solution, especially when he realizes the one thing they need is the one thing he's been holding back for far too long--absolute domination.

Review as on Goodreads by♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡

An alpha female walks into a bar with her not even close to an alpha male boyfriend. They both order a tequila sunrise. This has layers. 3 different things. Think about it! Yep, you got it, they add a man to the mix who helps the not so alpha male wolf man become more alpha.

This one was good with a more solid ending that the other 2 previous books!
Rating:

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
 Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser
"An escort who looked like a petty thief? This was a joke, and it wasn't a funny one."

~ 65% on Kindle "Just Another Lady (Xcite Romance)" by Penelope Friday

The Virgin Huntress

                                                      by Victoria Vane

Coddled and pampered since her mother's death, Lady Vesta Chambers is beside herself when her father goes to London to prepare for her come-out and returns with a young bride of his own. With her world turned upside down, Vesta accompanies her godmother, Diana, to town where she is smitten the moment she lays eyes on a certain captain of the Seventeenth Light Dragoons.
Captain Hewett DeVere, younger brother and heir to Viscount Ludovic "The Devil" DeVere, has returned from the American war scarred, disillusioned, and looking forward to settling down to a quiet and respectable life. But when the handsome and straight-laced captain turns his eyes toward the widowed Diana, Vesta is prepared to take devilish measures to prove just how wrong he is.
Recruiting the aid of her godfather, Vesta vows to prove to Hew once and for all that she is no longer a little girl, but a woman with the passion of…a huntress.


Book reviewed by L. Carroll
The absolute biggest problem I had with this book was the idea that someone can see another person and instantaneously know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are meant to be together, to the point that you are willing to kidnap that person just to get them to pay attention to you. Vesta is very young and comes off as quite spoiled, making it very difficult for me to like her as a character.

The redemption came when Hewett accepted his attraction to Vesta and his carnal side showed itself. When he was spending time with Diana he was very content to be a friendly person, but the other side of him that Vesta brought out made the relationship valid.

While this is classified as erotica, there wasn't a ton of sex in the book, and in fact the sex scenes didn't occur until very late in the story. There was quite a bit of foreshadowing done in this book about Diana and DeVere's future story, and many questions went unanswered, so be prepared to be sucked into the series if you read this book.

Rating:

Fifty Shades Freed

                                                         by E L James

When unworldly student Ana Steele first encountered the driven, damaged young entrepreneur Christian Grey, it sparked a sensual affair that changed both their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and ultimately repelled by Christian's singular sexual tastes, Ana demanded a deeper commitment; determined to keep her, Christian agreed. Now, together, they have more -- love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of infinite possibilities. But Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy and being together poses challenges neither of them ever anticipated. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian's opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity, identity, or independence; Christian must somehow overcome his compulsion to control and lay to rest the horrors that blighted his past and haunt his present. Just when it seems that together their love can conquer any obstacle, tragedy, malice and fate combine to make Ana's worst nightmares come true.


Review as on Goodreads by Milena's Book Corner
The first half was a bit slow, but I still could not put it down. Yes like the other two, there is still much adult content but that is not what the book is about on its own. It is ultimately a great love story, and a great series despite what the media has been saying. Writing wise, I have read much worse and to me this was just another series with a HEA (Happily Ever After). I would definitely recommend this series, not because it will qualify for a Nobel Prize in Literature, but because it is, in all honesty, a love story with a HEA. And I for one, ALWAYS want a HEA and Fifty Shades delivers. A great ending to a most intriguing, eye opening series.
Rating:

We're One

 by Mimi Barbour

Crystal was a celebrated Vegas star with a strong affinity to the animal world--except for the human male animal, that is. When she uses her trusty baseball bat to change the odds for easygoing Ashley Parks, getting beaten in an alley below her apartment window, the two end up having to run for their lives from a killer who wants revenge. Ashley's first kiss arouses her and all she wants is for him to do it again and more--but no strings. All he wants is strings--and to keep her safe. Her reaction to his chivalry..."You bungling idiot!!!? Everything's changed. It's you he's after now."

Review as on Goodreads by ♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡'s review

This book takes place in 1969.
A cute little light read supernatural love story between Ashley (a man) & Crystal.

Ash was getting beat up in an alley under Crystals window by some people who she worked for. One was Ash's friend too; playing a part so he didn't get fired. Crystal disguises herself in a hat an flannel shirt, runs out with a baseball bat & saves Ash.

Their fast paced love story mixed with bungling bad guys... or so they seemed. I pictured Joe Peshi as Joey... The animals, her chaotic mess...It was definitely an entertaining & different read with the magical rose bush & bench. It was a very original read as well. I can't get too specific because it was a fast read, I don't want to leave spoilers.

It was good & I did like it, but I have read so many great books lately, this one rates in the middle.

Rating:

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to 

their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"I linger on the edge of consciousness, aware that if I wake fully I'll wake him, too, and he doesn't sleep enough. Hazily my mind wanders through the events of yesterday evening."

-Chapter 15 "Fifty Shades Freed" by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Darker

 by E L James

Daunted by the singular tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house. 
 
But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades.
 
While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life.


Review as on Goodreads by Milenas Book Corner
Even though I enjoyed the first book this one was much better. Less kinky stuff more love between Christian and Ana. I loved it that Christian really trusted Ana with his dark secret, he sure does have a way of proving his love for her. Ana seems to have grown up a bit since the last book and is more confident with herself and her feelings for Christian. I liked how it ended it definitely makes you want to start book #3 immediately.
Rating: