What I've Read Lately, January 2013 Reviews

I'm still on a reading roll since January 1st, let's see what I've been up to.  Two favorite authors of mine, Jennifer Ashley and Sarah MacLean have come out with their latest additions to their current series, and I've discovered Susan Elizabeth Phillips' Chicago Stars Series!  I love it!  The first I read in print, but I heard they were great on audio, so the second, Heaven Texas, I listened to on audiobook - I simply adored it!  And so without further ado...

The Seduction of Elliot McBride by Jennifer Ashley

Book Description:
Juliana St. John was raised to be very proper. After a long engagement, her wedding day dawns—only for Juliana to find herself jilted at the altar.

Fleeing the mocking crowd, she stumbles upon Elliot McBride, the tall, passionate Scot who was her first love. His teasing manner gives her an idea, and she asks Elliot to save her from an uncertain future—by marrying her…

After escaping brutal imprisonment, Elliot has returned to Scotland a vastly wealthy yet tormented man. Now Juliana has her hands full restoring his half-ruined manor in the Scottish Highlands and trying to repair the broken heart of the man some call irredeemably mad. Though beautiful and spirited, Juliana wonders if that will be enough to win a second chance at love.

Jennifer Ashley's Highland Pleasures series is a favorite of mine, but none of the books have been quite as good as the first in the series. This latest addition, which is fifth in the series was pretty good, the story of Elliot McBride who has returned to Scotland after surviving a horrendous ordeal in India. He is scarred inside and out and the only one that can soothe him is Juliana, his childhood sweetheart. Juliana who is jilted at the last minute on her wedding day is reunited with Elliot and he marries her then and there on the spot.  How fortuitous he happened to be there! And so begins their whirlwind first few weeks as a married couple as he sweeps her off her feet and takes her to his crumbling castle in the Highlands. No sooner do they arrive with his Indian servants in tow, that she realizes he's "a little" mad.  His captivity has taken it's toll on him mentally and he has a tendency to start strangling people. And so is the now familiar plotline in this Highlander series in which these big and burly Highlanders have a heavy burden to carry from a tortured past. They are all a little crazy because of it, but the love of a good woman calms them down and makes them somewhat normal again. I loved this scenario at first in The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, but now I'm finding it a bit formulaic. Don't get me wrong, the writing and sensuality is top notch, but there just wasn't anything that really grabbed me with this one.  There's no sexual tension between Elliot and Juliana, they wind up together from the very beginning and sex is incredible for them every. single. time.  Which is several times a day. Just about the only thing good Elliot has going for himself is the fact he's having sex so much! But there's this pesky problem he's dealing with - he's accused of killing a former friend of his in India, although there was never really any doubt that he's wrongly accused and it looks like his former friend is trying to kill Elliot. But, Elliot, ever the macho Highlander goes out after him in the dead of night, determined to be the hunter rather than the huntee.  During all of this, Juliana has a lot to deal with on her plate, but her lists and organizational skills help enormously, which is sort of a running joke throughout the book. All in all, not my favorite of the Mackenzie novels, but I still liked it.  Overall, it needed more suspense and sexual tension to keep it afloat and interesting, luscious cover though.

3.5/5

Whom the Gods Love by Kate Ross

Book Description:
Although Alexander Falkland excels at everything he turns his hand to, all of his God-given talent cannot save him from a bloody, brutal end. Hired to find the killer, Julian Kestrel soon discovers that the fair-haired Alexander had more than his fair share of enemies.

An excellent murder mystery, well crafted and meticulous in detail. It had me wondering and second guessing over and over again about who did it! Julian Kestrel, Regency London dandy of dubious lineage has made a name for himself as a solver of murder mysteries. Here he is enlisted by the victim's father to solve the murder of London's beloved Alexander Falkland who was found bludgeoned to death by a poker in his study. With a wealth of suspects, Julian sifts through the details and little evidence to come up with the unsettling truth of the real Alexander Falkland. I really enjoyed this, and was so happy with the ending! I highly recommend this mystery, a real treat!

4.5/5

It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Book Description:
The Windy City isn't quite ready for Phoebe Somerville - the outrageous, curvaceous New York knockout who has just inherited the Chicago Stars football team. And Phoebe is definitely not prepared for the Stars' head coach Dan Celebow, a sexist jock taskmaster with a one-track mind. Celebow is everything Phoebe abhors. And the sexy new boss is everything Dan despises - a meddling bimbo who doesn't know a pigskin from a pitcher's mound.

So why is he drawn to the shameless sexpot like a heat-seeking missile? And why does the coach's good ol' boy charm leave cosmopolitan Phoebe feeling awkward, tongue-tied....and ready to fight?

The sexy, heartwarming, and hilarious It Had To Be You is an enchanting story of two stubborn people who believe in playing for keeps.

Oh. My. God.  My first read by this author and - I loved it!  Phoebe Somerville is the new owner of the Chicago Stars NFL team that she inherited from her father.  She knows nothing about football and could care less about the team.  But Dan Calebow, the team's demanding head coach is not about to let his team fall apart because it's deceased owner gave it to his (seemingly) bimbo, nitwit, bombshell daughter. Admittedly, I am no football fan, but this book has given me a new appreciation for it!  This book was so much fun to read, the chemistry between Dan and Phoebe sizzles off the pages.  I laughed, I had tears in my eyes at one point, it was exciting at the end, this book ran the gamut of emotions and had it all!  I can't wait to see what the rest of the series is like!  Fabulous!

4.5/5

Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (audio)

Book Description:
Come heck or high water, Gracie Snow is determined to drag the legendary ex-jock Bobby Tom Denton back home to Heaven, Texas, to begin shooting his first motion picture. Despite his dazzling good looks and killer charm, Bobby Tom has reservations about being a movie star -- and no plans to cooperate with a prim and bossy Ohio wallflower whom he can't get off his mind or out of his life. Instead, the hell-raising playboy decides to make her over from plain Jane to Texas wildcat.

But nothing's more dangerous than a wildcat with an angel's heart in a town too small for a bad boy to hide. And all hell breaks loose when two unforgettable people discover love, laughter, passion -- and a match that can only be made in Heaven.

I absolutely adored this on audio!  Anna Fields' Texas twang for Bobby Tom Denton was great - I am in love! She was aces for all the other voices, but I totally fell in love with "B.T."  With this ugly duckling story of Gracie and Bobby Tom I went from one extreme to the other. I laughed, I had tears in my eyes, so many moments to savor, I really loved his mother Suzy's storyline as well.  A real keeper! Can't wait for the next one!  What a fantastic story - it was hilarious and sweet and tender - it had everything I love in a romance! A keeper!

5/5

Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase

Book Description:
James Cordier is all blue blood and entirely dangerous. He's a master of disguise, a brilliant thief, a first-class lover--all for King and Country-and, by gad, he's so weary of it. His last mission is to "acquire" a packet of incriminating letters from one notorious woman. Then he can return to London and meet sweet-natured heiresses-not adventuresses and fallen women.

Francesca Bonnard has weathered heartbreak, scorn, and scandal. She's independent, happy, and definitely fallen; and she's learned that "gentlemen" are more trouble than they're worth. She can also see that her wildly attractive new neighbor is bad news.

But as bad as James is, there are others far worse also searching for Francesca's letters. And suddenly nothing is simple--especially the nearly incendiary chemistry between the two most jaded, sinful souls in Europe. And just as suddenly, risking everything may be worth the prize.

Surprisingly disappointing romance by one of my favorite authors.  Unlikely story of courtesan, Francesca Bonnard, who is a divorcee of a prominent Lord in England.  Ensconced in Venice, she has some incriminating letters that everyone wants and her life is at risk because of it.  Enter Cordier, a Regency James Bond sort of type, who is out to get the letters for the Crown and doesn't hesitate to bed whoever he needs to to get them.  Unfortunately, he didn't count on falling for Francesca, despite the fact she is a courtesan.  I was bored through much of this, found no chemistry between the two, the plotline was tepid and I really found the HEA ending improbable.   Too bad, for I've read much better by Loretta Chase, I guess they all can't be stellar romances.

3/5

Midnight's Wild Passion by Anna Campbell

Book Description:
London's most notorious seducer, Nicholas Challoner lives solely for revenge...

The dashing, licentious Marquess of Ranelaw can never forgive Godfrey Demarest for ruining his sister—now the time has come to repay the villain in the same coin. But one formidably intriguing impediment stands in the way of Nicholas's vengeance: Miss Antonia Smith, companion to his foe's unsuspecting daughter.

Having herself been deceived and disgraced by a rogue—banished by her privileged family as a result and forced to live a lie—Antonia vows to protect her charge from the same cruel fate. She recognizes Ranelaw for the shameless blackguard he is and will devote every ounce of her intelligence and resolve to thwarting him.

Yet Antonia has always had a fatal weakness for rakes . . .

Not bad, but the hero was an ass most of the time.  When will I realize I hate revenge romances?  They really don't do much for me. Nicholas is a true rake bent on ruining the daughter of the man who ruined his half sister twenty years earlier.  He didn't count on falling in lust with her dragon-like duenna, who was ruined once herself!  See a pattern here?  Tons of inconsistencies inside the head of the hero that drove me nuts.  Does he want to get revenge or not?  Still, the steamy parts made up for the implausible plotline, but I won't be reading any more by this author.

3.5/5

Flirting with Danger by Suzanne Enoch

Book Description:
In her dazzling romantic suspense debut, bestselling author Suzanne Enoch brings us a thrilling tale about a thief who needs to prove she's no murderer and the millionaire who loves her.

Samantha Jellicoe is a thief and proud of it. Raised to appreciate the finer things in life, Sam has no trouble divesting the wealthy of their treasures. This all changed, however, the night she attempts to steal a valuable item from a Palm Beach estate. Before she knew what hit her, a bomb goes off, a guard is killed, and Sam ends up saving millionaire Richard Addison. She's a good thief and will own up to her jobs, but if anyone thinks to tie her to murder, they better think again.

On any other night, having a one hundred plus pounds of female fling herself at you is a good thing. But on this particular night, Richard Addison is mad as hell. Not only did he just have his gallery blown up-with him about to enter it-but the woman who rescued him didn't stick around to offer any explanations. When the dust settles, Rick knows the only person with answers to his questions is the mystery woman. And if she thinks she can hide from him, she better think again.

Entertaining contemporary by author Suzanne Enoch, who I am familiar with because of her historical romances.  This is the first contemporary I've read of hers and it wasn't bad!  Story of pretty and very clever young thief who takes on billionaire mogul after saving his life in an explosion while trying to steal a valuable antiquity from his Palm Beach mansion.  Now the two have teamed up to find out who is trying to kill her, but they didn't count on falling in lust at the same time.  Loved the locale and Rick and Sam make a good team together.  Enjoyed this and will continue with the series.

4/5

  

Paradise by Judith McNaught

Book Description: 
 Judith McNaught brings us her most wonderful, deeply emotional novel yet...a spellbinding story of youthful passion, family loyalties, and the fateful events that lead two special lovers to the miracle of a second chance.

Meredith Bancroft, a serenley beautiful blonde, and Matthew Farrell, an intense, magnetic tycoon, are both haunted by their once-in-a-lifetime love...betrayed in a conflict of heartache and pain. When the Bancroft family empire is threatened by a hostile takeover attempt, Meredith is forced to turn to Matt. As tensions build between them, leaving them both uncertain, restless...and falling in love again...

Filled with the passion, tenderness, and deep understanding of love that are Judith McNaught's unique trademark, PARADISE is her most memorable love story yet...a novel to treasure forever.

Well, I guess I'm in the minority, but I was not as bowled over by Paradise as many others.  It reminded me too much of the novels that came out of the '80's and were then made into TV miniseries.  Young, beautiful girl who was an ugly duckling in her childhood, rises in the corporate world, longing to be taken seriously.  She finds love, tragically loses it and overcomes all obstacles, blah, blah, blah to find it again years later.  Now, I did love the character of Matt, but I found it hard to identify with Meredith who really needed more backbone and I kept wondering what did Matt love so much about her?  Plus, both of them were so unbelievably stupid about the truth and not figuring it all out earlier!  Her father was so awful, his possible happily ever ending at the end did nothing for me. It seemed out of place.  Granted, the story was hard to put down, but so are many "beach read" types of books, which is the category I place this in.  Maybe I'll like the next one more in this series.  Ordinarily I love McNaught, she's one of my absolute favorites, and if I had read this back when it came out around 1989, I probably would have loved it, but compared to her historicals?  No comparison!

3.5/5

The Pirate Hunter's Lady by Jennifer Ashley

Book Description:
James Ardmore is hunting the pirate who killed his brother's family, and nothing will stand in his way. Not the English who want him dead, and definitely not Diana Worthing, a beautiful woman he takes the opportunity to abduct while he's busy rescuing an American spy. Diana knows the secrets of an island called Haven, which James is determined to find. But both James and Diana are unprepared for the sparks that fly between them.
The Pirate Hunter’s Lady is the second, revised edition of the original print title: The Pirate Hunter. New in this edition: New first four chapters detailing Diana and James’s first meeting. Revised, edited body of the book. New epilogue.

Second in Ashley's Regency Pirates series, this one didn't capture my attention at all, maybe it's because pirates just don't do it for me.  Still, I love this author and can't get enough of her, even if I don't like pirates.  I meandered through this book and didn't care that much about Diana or James. It got off to a good start, but just really slowed down while they are together on Haven.  Her father's secret turned out to be entirely anticlimactic and then James' capture, etc.  For some reason there seemed to be a lack of cohesiveness in the storyline, but I plodded along until the finish line.  It didn't help that there were loads of typos in the kindle edition, which really surprised me and became increasingly annoying.  Simple things that a spell and grammar check would catch.  I love this author, but this series is not a favorite.  Since I got it for next to nothing on kindle, I'll read Book 3 since I already have it though.  Disappointing.

2.5/5

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

Book Description:
From author Kresley Cole comes this spellbinding story of a demon king trapped by an enchantress for her wanton purposes - and the scorching aftermath that follows when he turns the tables and claims her as his captive.

HIS OBSESSION...
Sabine, Sorceress of Illusions: the evil beauty who surrenders her body, but not her heart.

HER DOWNFALL...
Rydstrom Woede: the ruthless warrior who vows to keep her at all costs.

THEY WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO WANT EACH OTHER THIS MUCH...
With each smoldering encounter, their shared hunger only increases. If they can defeat the sinister enemy that stands between them, will Sabine make the ultimate sacrifice for her demon? Or will the proud king lay down his crown and arms to save his sorceress?

Wicked and delicious fun when nearly seven foot tall demon king Rydstrom meets his mate in Sabine, a sensuous, yet vexing sorceress that torments in more ways than one.  Then the tables are turned and he gets his way with her instead.  Very sexy and entertaining read with the usual road trip scenario common in this series.  This is great for paranormal lovers of the lore and other mystical fantasy creatures.

4/5

Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen (audio)

Book Description:
A Royal Spyness mystery starring Lady Georgiana, thirty-fourth in line for the throne - and the mystery world's favorite penniless heiress.

With its posh clientele in the country for the summer, Georgie's housecleaning business has fizzled. So she tries hiring herself out as a dinner-and-theatre companion. But her first client has quite the wrong idea. To avoid further scandal, Georgie's shipped home to Castle Rannoch, where her summer plans include honoring a promise to Her Majesty to keep Castle Rannoch's divorcée houseguest from seducing the Prince of Wales. She's also been coerced into helping Scotland Yard with a top-secret mission - namely keeping an eye on the shooting party at Balmoral and preventing someone from shooting the Prince. And Georgie must manage all this without strangling her odious sister-in-law Fig or spineless brother Binky.

I wouldn't call Binky spineless, but he is a bit of a softy. This time Georgie is back at Castle Rannoch in Scotland where she is in the middle of what seems to be a series of mishaps or assassination attempts upon the Royal family. Georgie's "is he or is he not" boyfriend Darcy turns up as well, and the unusual turn of events of having to deal with the "delightful" Mrs. Simpson and her American friends makes Fig and Georgie allies as Fig worries they'll be eaten out of house and home, not to mention the wear and tear on the hot water heater from all the American's baths! This wasn't quite as funny as the last one, but I still love this series! (Georgie's date with her new escort service in London was priceless!) As usual, Katherine Kellgren was great with the audiobook narration - I love Georgie's mother the best in this one, and everyone's phrase, "Old Bean."

4/5

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

Book Description: 
Lady Philippa Marbury is odd. The bespectacled, brilliant fourth daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby cares more for books than balls, flora than fashion and science than the season. Nearly engaged to Lord Castleton, Pippa wants to explore the scandalous parts of London she's never seen before marriage. And she knows just who to ask: the tall, charming, quick-witted bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, London's most notorious and coveted gaming hell, known only as Cross.

Like any good scientist, Pippa's done her research and Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She wants science without emotion—the experience of ruination without the repercussions of ruination. And who better to provide her with the experience than this legendary man? But when this odd, unexpected female propositions Cross, it's more than tempting . . . and it will take everything he has to resist following his instincts—and giving the lady precisely what she wants.

I had high hopes for the second installment in the Rules of Scoundrels series, but I was a bit disappointed.  I love Sarah MacLean but it took a long time for things to get going and heat up.  It took forever just to get to the first kiss (half way through the book) and I tired of the "I'm not good enough for you" theme by Cross, the hero, who believes he must sacrifice himself for the love of the genius, bespectacled heroine, Pippa by marrying the daughter of his nemesis.  In fact, Cross wouldn't even allow himself to touch Pippa until over half way through the book!  Some good parts and the one sex scene was hot, but overall, I felt there seemed to be a lot vagueness in areas.  I longed for storylines with the side characters that could have been expanded upon.  Pippa was always described as the odd daughter which became tiresome, though I kind of liked her.  Despite my "meh" feeling overall, I love the cover and the inside flap - yumm, I love scruff!

3.5/5

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Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught

Book Description:

ELIZABETH CAMERON

The Countess of Havenhurst possessed a rare gentleness and fierce courage to match her exquisite beauty. But her reputation is shattered when she is discovered in the arms of Ian Thornton, a notorious gambler and social outcast.

IAN THORNTON

A dangerously handsome man of secret wealth and mysterious lineage, his voyage to Elizabeth's heart is fraught with intrigue, scandal, and a venomous revenge.

Destined for each other, yet wary of each other's motives, Elizabeth and Ian engage in a dance of suspicion and passion that tests the very soul of their star-crossed love. As a twisting path of secrets takes them from London's drawing rooms to the mysterious Scottish Highlands, Elizabeth must learn the truth: is Ian merely a ruthless fortune hunter at heart?

Another winner by McNaught, but I'm sad I've read all of her historicals now! *pout*

Two years after a fateful weekend party in the country, can Elizabeth Cameron regain her reputation after it's been ruined by an innocent flirtation with the notorious "you are no gentleman, sir!" Ian Thornton?   Now, desperate to avoid a disastrous marriage that her uncle is determined to arrange for her, can Ian and Elizabeth find their way back to each other?  How can they clear the air and erase the big misunderstanding that jeopardizes their future together forever?

Two years earlier, Elizabeth Cameron was the belle of the London season.  Her brother, who was nearly bankrupt with debts wanted her to make a sparkling marriage to a rich and titled gentleman.  Just as her engagement to one of the most eligible men in London is about to be announced, disaster strikes.  She is caught with Ian Thornton, a notorious gambler, reminiscent of another favorite hero of mine, Rhett Butler.   When Ian is accused of cheating at cards, Elizabeth jumps into the fray and saves him from disgrace.  Not that he needed her help, but it throws them together that weekend.   Ian is instantly smitten with Elizabeth and impulsively proposes marriage to her.  Thrown off balance, she neglects to tell him she's already betrothed.  He's angry and hurt later when he finds out she's not free to marry.  He basically lost his head over her and vows to never do it again with anyone.  Due to the scheming machinations of a jealous friend, Ian and Elizabeth are caught together in a compromising (but innocent) situation.  Even though he's angry with Elizabeth, he fights a duel with Elizabeth's brother.  Ian is shot because her brother tried to kill him, even though Ian did the honorable thing and deloped.  After the duel, Ian leaves the country on business and hopes to never have anything more to do with Elizabeth ever again!

Little does he know that Elizabeth's reputation is in tatters.  Her engagement is off and she's been relegated to the country for two years.  Trying to keep her estate up and running, money is scarce and her dastardly brother is nowhere to be found.  In a last ditch effort, Elizabeth's uncle has devised a plan to marry her off to the highest bidder.  Mistakenly, he sends an invitation to Ian who is now incredibly rich and suddenly accepted by the ton.  (It helps he's also the grandson of a duke even though Ian refuses to acknowledge the connection).   Ian dismisses the invitation, insulted by it.  But, his secretary responds to it by accident and so sets the wheels in motion - Elizabeth and Ian become reunited at his little cottage in the Scottish Highlands.

From this point on the story is delightful.  The two of them are stuck together and the sparks fly.  Both are put out by their circumstances but it forces them to address the issue that they were unaccountably attracted to one another two years ago.  Can they make a go for it now?  Of course, it's not that easy.  Ian is affianced to a respectable young lady and there are all sorts of complications including a sensational appearance at a ball where Ian and his grandfather (the duke) save the day! I simply loved it!

I'm leaving tons out, but this is a great story with plenty of ups and downs.  Ian is not as hard hearted as some of McNaught's previous heroes.  He's not quite as forbidding and he's half Scottish. :)  For all intents and purposes, he is a self made man who has become successful and wealthy, but he has a soft spot when it comes to the sadness of what happened to his parents (and his dog!)  In many respects he is your classic McNaught hero, but slightly toned down.  Speaking of heroes, I was pleased to see some references to some of her past heroes, and a reprise of the characters from Something Wonderful. 

I'm sorry to finish this book, since it's the last of McNaught's historicals for me, but I'm eager to try out some of her contemporaries.  In the meantime, can anyone recommend another historical author for me that's similar to McNaught and her oh so over the top alpha heroes?  As much as they can be simply awful at times to their heroines, they are my favorites, Whitney, My Love, in particular.  Her books are roller coaster rides, full of drama and misunderstandings.  When under the impression they've been wronged, her heroes have an annoying tendency to cut the women in their lives out, with no chance of forgiveness or explanation!  But I still love them to death!  I must be some kind of literary masochist!  If someone asked me what author has the best heroes, I'd probably say McNaught. 

If you haven't tried her yet, trust me, you're missing out on some great reading.  Get thee to a bookstore - quick!

4/5

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Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught

Book Description:
The tempestuous marriage of Alexandra Lawrence, an innocent country girl, and Jordan Townsende, the rich and powerful Duke of Hawthorne, is about to face its ultimate test of tender loyalty. Swept into the endlessly fascinating world of London society, free-spirited Alexandra becomes ensnared in a tangled web of jealousy and revenge, stormy pride and overwhelming passion. But behind her husband's cold, arrogant mask, there lives a tender, vital, sensual man...the man Alexandra married. Now, she will fight for his very life...and the rapturous bond they alone can share.

Another winner by Judith McNaught!  I simply love going through her backlist, it's a sheer joy to read her romances.  Well written and passionate, they pack a wallop, often a roller coaster ride of emotions.  She's one of the queens of romance and a favorite of mine.  The relationships she writes are hot blooded with not a little angst, alpha heroes abound and her heroines have a winsome innocence to them that I love - Something Wonderful is no exception!

Jordan and Alexandra are the most unlikely couple.  She, a country lass, is incredibly naive to the point where I nearly rolled my eyes.  She doesn't even know what husband and wives do on their wedding night?  C'mon!   But, despite that, I liked her and was able to overlook it, it only adds to the plot later on in the book as she matures.  He, on the other hand, is an experienced, worldly, man about town.  A wealthy duke with estates and influence up the wazoo.  Due to a strange quirk of fate, they are forced to marry.  He doesn't want to, but because she saved his life, he unknowingly compromised her and ruined her reputation.  He would be a cad if he did not marry her.  It's the least he can do to this young innocent girl that doesn't deserve to be ruined for an act of kindness and bravery.

Alexandra is seventeen years old and green as green, the last person in the world he thought he'd ever wind up marrying.  Being a cynic when it comes to love, he's not accustomed to her ingenuous heart of gold and joie de vivre.  Between her optimism and his gradual fascination with her personality that is new and fresh, you get the feeling their marriage has potential - if only he'd drop his ballerina mistress.  His first thought is to hide her away at one of his distant estates in Devon and carry on with his life - and mistress - in London.  But, as they get to know one another before the wedding, things begin to blossom between them and Alexandra falls in love with him, just as any seventeen year old would.  He's bigger than big, larger than life - and she's going to marry him!  She develops major hero worship, although he still thinks of her like the little puppy she's adopted on their honeymoon.  Yet, Alexandra's vivacious personality grows on him and by the time they marry and have their wedding journey, Jordan has become smitten by her guileless charm.  It's catching.  They christen their marriage bed en route to London and it's pure bliss, Alexandra is overwhelmingly in love with him even more.  He'd never admit it, but he's coming around to her as well, maybe this marriage thing will work between them after all...

SPOILER

But, this isn't a story about two people getting to know one another after a forced marriage.  It takes a twisty turn.  Just when you think Jordan and Alexandra are going to have a great beginning to their marriage and get on with their lives, he gets knocked on the head and disappears!  Oh no!  I couldn't believe it!  Everyone believes he's dead and after a year of mourning and missing him, Alexandra gets on with her life - alone - as his widow and duchess.  She becomes sophisticated and develops some polish.  Basically, she grows up and becomes a women.  She's no longer the girl Jordan left behind.

Thanks to Jordan's grandmother's who grows to love Alex, she becomes the toast of the town and London society.  But, while she's undergoing her transformation, she begins to hear the truth about what her husband had been like before she met him, and she doesn't like what she's hearing.  She feels like a fool, all her hero worship evaporates as she finds out just what kind of man he had been like.  Torn by her own memories of him and his notorious reputation as a ladies man she flings herself into have a grand old time.  Although she remains chaste in her scandalous escapades, rumors abound about her as well, though none of them are true.  To squelch the wagging tongues, she agrees to marry Jordan's cousin, Anthony (who inherited the dukedom) to settle down as his duchess.  She doesn't love him, but it's a future she can live with.

Guess what happens just before they say "I do" in the church?

I was up and down over Jordan in this book.  I kept wondering if McNaught was deliberately killing him off and we were going to read about Alexandra finding love with someone else - his cousin.  I was mentally preparing myself for that kind of storyline, unsure of my feelings of whether I wanted her with Jordan or Anthony.  At times I hated Jordan, he is not painted as a sympathetic character at first.  He's haughty and unfeeling, plus a real womanizer with many sins in his past.   While he was missing, Alexandra heard all about his exploits, his mistresses and paramours to the point where she was sickened by it.  She was determined to erase his memory from her mind and start fresh again.   Yet, upon his miraculous return Jordan wants his "wife" back.  Uh-oh.

Can Alexandra accept the man who has returned as her husband?  Faults and all?  Can Jordan accept the accomplished and glamorous young woman his wife has turned into in his absence?  It's as if he believes she has blossomed because he "died."  He can't accept that she simply grew up.  A lot has happened to both of them in the last two years, but one thing hasn't changed.  Someone is still trying to murder him.  Unfortunately, Jordan becomes convinced that Alex and her "fiance" Anthony are plotting to murder him.  Grr! So much angst and miscommunication!  They should be happy and loving each other and instead Jordan is being a jerk and brooding, brooding, brooding, taking it all out on innocent Alexandra who just wants to love him again and forget the past and move on.  I hated the way Jordan treated her at times - so typical of McNaught's heroes.

Yes, Jordan is the stereotypical jumping to conclusions McNaught hero.  Tall, dark and handsome, masculine, commanding with the haughty demeanor only a duke can have.  He assumes the worst of his wife.  Never does he give Alex the benefit of the doubt, even though he claims to love her.  He doubts her love for him and assumes that she couldn't wait to get married again after he "died" and had been living it up as a merry widow!  It drove me crazy that he was so wrong about her, but at the same time, I love, love, loved it!  I'm a victim to these kind of Judith McNaught heroes, if I met one in real life, I'd probably hate his guts, but in print - I swoon!

So, how do these two resolve their differences and live happily ever after, read the book and see!  It's a great book all the way up to the end-simply wonderful!

4/5

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Once and Always by Judith McNaught

Book Description:
Across the vast ocean sailed Victoria Seaton, a free-spirited American beauty left suddenly orphaned and alone. Eager to claim her long-lost heritage, she was amazed at the formal elegance of Wakefield, the sumptuous English estate of her distant cousin...the notorious Lord Jason Fielding. Sought after at plays, operas, and balls by London's most fashionable ladies, Jason remained a mystery to Victoria. Bewildered by his arrogant demeanor, yet drawn to his panther-like grace, she came to sense the searingly painful memories that smoldered in the depths of his jade-green eyes.

Unable to resist her spitfire charm, Jason gathered her at last into his powerful arms, ravishing her lips with his kisses, arousing in her a sweet, insistent hunger. Wed in desire, they were enfolded in a fierce, consuming joy, free at last from the past's cruel grasp. Then, in a moment of blinding anguish, Victoria discovered the shocking treachery that lay at the heart of their love...a love she had dreamed would triumph...Once And Always.

I love Judith McNaught's books, she's a favorite of mine, although this is only the third one I've read by her.  Her heroines always get my sympathy, there is loads of angst, and the heroes are usually these big, bad, tall, dark and handsome hunks that are Alphas - my favorite combo most of the time.  Yet, Once and Always went a little too far with the big bad hero theme and I had my likes and dislikes with this novel.   Jason, the hero, was too much on the cruel side for my liking and Victoria, who was charming with an independent streak while in America, came across as overly trusting and naive in England - almost TSTL, which grated on me over time - she really had to smarten up for me to really admire her.  Still, I grew to love these characters over the course of the book, but can I call this one a favorite? No, but it was still entertaining despite some flaws.

Regarding Jason, he took some getting used to.  He was cruel, dark and cold, but I enjoyed seeing how he gradually thawed towards Victoria.  Jaded from a previous marriage to an unfaithful wife who is then responsible for the tragic death of his son, he - understandably - has a lot of emotional distrust towards women and cannot bear to love again.  Plus, he has a tendency to jump to the wrong conclusion - a typical McNaught heroic trait.   Big, bad hero jumping to the wrong conclusion and not giving the heroine a chance to explain herself and she not realizing he's jumped to the wrong conclusion until it's too late. He hurts her, but she forgives him in the end and makes him promise never to do it again.

I'm not a big lover of tortured heroes, although Jason won me over eventually.  I loved his slow smiles towards Victoria as he gradually falls for her.  My heart leapt at the same time hers did.   I disliked him when we are first  introduced to him, he really comes across as a stinker.  Yet, as we get his backstory it becomes clear why he is so mean and rude and just plain awful to be around!  Again, I'm not fond of the excuse of blaming it on his awful childhood, but it explains a lot and makes the reader more sympathetic towards him - and we see how Victoria "tames" him and makes him whole again.  A take on the Beauty and the Beast theme.  Victoria is adorable in many ways, a perfect foil for Jason's brooding, disagreeable persona.  I also enjoyed the way she tamed the wild dog she finds in the woods - a nice parallel to Jason.  I liked Victoria with her titian hair and blue eyes (if I read it once, I read it a million times), but sometimes it was unbelievable she could be so dense!   I rolled my eyes one too many times.
 
One particularly glaring incidence in which Victoria's TSTL naivete drove me nuts was leading up to their first time making love.  This is ordinarily the "big moment" the reader is waiting for in a romance.  Victoria is a virgin, and it was a major disappointment and not a pleasant experience for her!  Again, this is not unusual for McNaught's books, she often favors this kind of scenario.  The hero thinks she's not a virgin and lo and behold she is!  Yet, he misunderstands her because she's so naive about sex that she makes him believe she has already lost her virginity to her fiance in America.  Yet, it's too late by the time he rams into her!  Ouch! I don't know why McNaught does this to her heroines, for it's far from romantic, but it creates loads of angst.

Through most of the book, Victoria is under the impression that her fiance, Andrew from America, is going to come and retrieve her from England and take her back home to America and marry her.  He has been off abroad in Europe and was away when her life changed so drastically.  Of course, we know Andrew is never coming because his mother (who doesn't want him marrying her) never sent on her letters letting him know her parents have died and she's been packed off to England.  Victoria holds out for Andrew for a long time until she inevitably falls for Jason. She knew his mother was not for the marriage - couldn't she figure out for herself that giving the mother her letters was a BIG mistake?  Then, she receives a letter from the mother telling her that Andrew has married someone else.  Hello?  When will she learn not to trust this mother?  Everyone else seems to doubt her - but Victoria is just too good and trusting! Grr!  When the fatherly Duke (a side character who wants her to marry Jason, his real son)  finds out that Andrew really didin't marry, he conveniently doesn't tell Victoria the real story.  Jason and Victoria both resist their attraction to one another at first, but love triumphs and they eventually marry once Victoria's heart mends from her loss of Andrew.  By the time Andrew does actually show up after they're married - better late than never - I was disappointed there wasn't more of an ending with him.  He just walks away into the mist, never to be seen of again.  I wonder whatever happened to him?  Granted, all hell breaks loose after he leaves, but I would have liked to have seen more of an aftermath in his regard.

After that episode when Andrew comes and goes, Victoria flees the house when she learns the truth that Andrew hadn't married someone else and that the truth had been kept from her.  Victoria rides off and is mistakenly taken for dead by drowning in a nearby river (though no body is ever found). Yes, it was far fetched that everyone thought she was dead in the first place (again, jumping to conclusions!) but I loved it how she came back and once she and Jason were reunited, I enjoyed their playful banter as he stalks after her, following her up the stairs to their bedroom... who doesn't love being chased into bed?  Delightful!

Overall, not my favorite McNaught, but it was still a great story with tons of emotion, pain and soul searching by both hero and heroine.  A hard to put down book all the way up to the very last page!  There were a few loose ends that I would have liked to have known more about, like what happened to her sister?  And is there a story about their friends, the nice young couple that befriend the newly married Victoria?  As always, I did enjoy this romance and Jason's transformation from the brutal beast of a man to a wonderful human being and winning the love of his life - once and always.

3.5/5

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Until You by Judith McNaught

Book Description:
New York Times bestselling author Judith McNaught sweeps readers from the wilds of America to elegant 1820s London in this unforgettable romantic adventure.

A teacher in a school for wealthy young ladies, Sheridan, Bromleigh is hired to accompany one of her students, heiress Charise Lancaster, to England to meet her fiancé. When her charge elopes with a stranger, Sheridan wonders how she will ever explain it to Charise's intended, Lord Burleton.

Standing on the pier, Stephen Westmoreland, the Earl of Langford, assumes the young woman coming toward him is Charise Lancaster -- and informs her of his inadvertent role in a fatal accident involving Lord Burleton the night before. And just as Sheridan is about to speak, she steps into the path of a cargo net loaded with crates!

Sheridan awakens in Westmoreland's mansion with no memory of who she is; the only hint of her past is the puzzling fact that everyone calls her Miss Lancaster. All she truly knows is that she is falling in love with a handsome English earl, and that the life unfolding before her seems full of wondrous possibilities...

I loved this sequel to Whitney, My Love. The story picks up a few years later from where Whitney left off. Here the story centers on Stephen, brother to Clayton Westmoreland. Stephen is now a jaded and cynical man about town, determined to never let a women into his life again who will deceive him the same way a certain woman from his past had done.

I loved seeing some of our old friends from Whitney and found many of the same plot devices used again - but who cares? They were great and I loved every minute! My one gripe is the long period set in America before our heroine, Sherry goes to England. It seemed endless and a little bit dull.

The basic story is about mistaken identities and amnesia. Stephen Westmoreland, minding his own business on his way home early one morning from trysting with his mistress, runs over a young lord who runs out into the street. He kills him accidentally and feels terrible about it. He finds out this Lord Burleton was supposed to get married in two days to an American heiress due to arrive in London the next day. Stephen takes it upon himself to meet her at the ship and inform her of her intended's early death. It's the least he can do, for he's under the impression it was a love match.

Meanwhile, we learn that the heiress, Charise Lancaster, has run off with some fortune hunter before the ship from America has even docked! Obviously, it wasn't a love match with Burleton! Her chaperone, Sheridan Bromleigh, is beside herself with worry, convinced she will be blamed for everything and will go to jail. She braces herself and goes to meet the lord that is waiting for her at the dock. She thinks she's meeting Lord Burleton, but it's really Stephen, who thinks he's meeting Charise. How confusing! But, to make matters even more confusing, within seconds of meeting, Sheridan is hit by a big cargo net full of crates and is knocked unconscious before she can inform Stephen who she really is and that Charise has run off!

Feeling even more guilty, he brings her back to his townhouse and sees to it that she is nursed back to health. It turns out she remembers nothing and has amnesia. Her doctor has informed Stephen that she cannot have any more shocks or bad news until she is out of danger. One thing leads to another and Sheridan (Sherry) thinks Stephen is her fiancé! He can't tell her the truth right away for fear of more damage to her recovery and the plot gets thicker and even more delicious! But there is still the sticky issue of how is it going to be resolved? She thinks they're already engaged? How can he undo the engagement without hurting her feelings? Basically... he can't, and he's an ass for trying. Grr.

I loved every minute of this story and ate it up like candy. Stephen's family is let in on the secret, and they all instantly believe Sherry and Stephen are meant for one another. Sherry falls for him immediately, but he resists and futiley tries to convince her that she should look around and marry someone else. He feels so guilty about lusting over her when he killed her fiancé! (A minor matter, in my opinion). Naturally, her feelings are hurt and she is angry at him, but it doesn't last for too long. She becomes the toast of London with her debut (thanks to Stephen's sister in-law, Whitney and her aristocratic friends). Before long, she and Stephen cannot resist one another and grow even closer, she has fallen in love with him, and he's getting close, if he'll only admit it to himself. He decides to overcome his guilt and in a particularly romantic moment, he asks her to be his wife and sweeps her out onto the dance floor at a very public ball - my favorite moment in the book. They are a stunning couple and have so much to look forward to - but... but... she still doesn't have her memory back and when it does return all hell breaks loose! There is the terrible, big misunderstanding, as in Whitney, and it creates all sorts of angst and misery. Stephen does a terrible thing (these Westmoreland brothers!) which makes the reader long for some kind of resolution and my sympathy goes out to Sherry! I won't spoil it, but it's a great story and everything does work out in the end and Sherry's dreams all come true - it's exciting, but nerve wracking - impossible to put down!

I loved Sherry, she was sweet and innocent, so vulnerable with her amnesia. I was annoyed with her when she does something really stupid once she gets her memory back, but I felt sorry for her and I don't blame her for what she did - she was in shock! I agonized for her and felt terrible for her, especially after the way she and Stephen had fallen in love with each other - it just wasn't fair! He is every bit a Westmoreland and if you loved his brother in Whitney, you'll love Stephen in Until You. Tall, dark and handsome, he has a vulnerability about him that wasn't as apparent in Clayton, yet he has that same Westmoreland intractability about him - willing to cut the woman he loves out of his life if he thinks she's wronged him. I hated him for it, but I loved him too! He wasn't as extreme as Clayton (thankfully), but he still put Sherry through the wringer, but it makes it that much better when they are finally reunited - oh, but what a way to get back to that point again! *sigh*

This is a must read for Whitney, My Love fans, you will not be sorry. It wasn't as devastatingly emotional as Whitney, but it was similar in ways and a very satisfying read. The glittering ballrooms and styles of post-Regency England were perfectly executed, I loved being back in this world. It was great to see Whitney, Clayton, Nicki and the Dowager Duchess again - especially since they were all rooting for Sherry and Stephen to be together! A great, great romance with a wonderful happily ever after ending! Not quite as good as the first, but a hairsbreadth away. It took nine years for this sequel to come out after Whitney, and kudos to Ms. McNaught for pulling it off - brava!

4/5

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Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught

Book Description:
Under the dark, languorous eyes of Clayton Westmoreland, the Duke of Claymore, Whitney Stone grew from a saucy hoyden into a ravishingly sensual woman. Fresh from her triumphs in Paris society, she returned to England to win the heart of Paul, her childhood love...only to be bargained away by her bankrupt father to the handsome, arrogant Duke. Outraged, she defies her new lord. But even as his smoldering passion seduces her into a gathering storm of desire, Whitney cannot - will not - relinquish her dream of perfect love.

OMG, this was such a good book, I couldn't put it down! I read it in one day - all seven hundred pages of it! Luckily, I've been sick in bed for the past four days and was able to read it uninterrupted.

First of all, let me say up front that there are:

SPOILERS AHEAD!


It would be impossible for me to review this book without revealing what happens in the plotline, so keep that in mind.

On with the review:

This was Judith McNaught's first book which she wrote in the mid 1980's, the days when a hero raped the heroine and nobody thought twice about it. Oh how romances have evolved! Nowadays, that would be so un-PC, but back then it was done, so keep that in mind when reading Whitney, My Love and try to keep an open mind and be forgiving if you can. I was able to look at the story as a whole, although I can totally understand why some people wouldn't be able to read or stomach this novel because of the brutality depicted in the hero. It irked me as well and prevented me from giving it a 5 star rating, but it didn't ruin the book for me. If anything it made it more compelling and lifted it up from being just another funny regency romance to a darker, richer love story about two people who make terrible mistakes in their lives. The hero is an over the top alpha male who reacts irrationally before thinking, and the heroine, albeit lively and endearing, makes some costly errors in judgment.

Whitney Stone is an endearing plucky heroine. An unruly teenager with a crush on her neighbor Paul, she is sent off to France to live with her aunt and uncle. She is schooled in the ways of how to be a proper young lady and makes her debut in Paris. She is a huge hit! Now refined and beautiful she is eager to return to England and get her old love to fall in love and marry her. She's never given up her crush on Paul and is determined to get him and show up everyone who scorned her in the neighborhood - country bumpkins who have nothing better to do than gossip and criticize her! Little does she know that at a masquerade in Paris, she has caught the eye of the tall, dark and handsome Duke of Westmoreland. She has bewitched him, though she has no idea who he is, since he was masked while they danced once together. He, being the sexy uber alpha male that he is, has decided he will marry her, and whatever the Duke of Westmoreland wants, the Duke of Westmoreland gets!

Extrememly rich and powerful, Westmoreland has her background investigatesd and finds out that her father is up to his eyeballs in debt and makes him an offer he can't refuse. They make a deal that Whitney will marry the Duke, all unbeknownst to Whitney who has other plans. The Duke rents a place near her country home so he can court her without the notoriety of his ducal fame and fortune - and rakish reputation with the ladies. Posing as Clayton Westland, he wants to woo her in his own way. They have an unexpected meeting in the the woods soon after she arrives back in England and she hates him almost instantly. She thinks he is rude and arrogant and wants no part of him - she wants Paul! (Shades of Rhett and Scarlett as well as some Darcy and Elizabeth - I loved it!)

Clayton sets out to win her, but it's no easy task, Whitney can't stand the sight of him, even though they're always thrown together somehow. Plus, she's fixated on the vain and lacklustre Paul! Much of what happens between Whitney and Clayton seems to be in extremes. Whitney is a passionate, headstrong girl, much of what happens to her is due to her rash tendencies. Clayton is a take control man, if he wants something he gets it, come hell or high water, he takes no prisoners and shows no mercy. The two of them together are a combustible combination which can be either great or disastrous. To make a long story short, when Whitney finds out about the betrothal she is furious and instantly rebels against the idea, even though the duke is starting to grow on her. Ignoring the fact that her father will be beholden to Clayton for 100,000 pounds, she refuses to marry the duke, she is still bent on marrying Paul who has now finally offered for her. But, when Paul finds out that Whitney has no money, he begs off and Whitney finally comes to terms with marrying Clayton. Finally!

But, just when things are looking rosy for this couple and they're falling in love, the story takes a dark turn. Clayton believes some malicious gossip that a jealous enemy of Whitney's casually tells him (someone should have shot that girl after what she said!) and instead of being rational and thinking it through Clayton grabs Whitney at a London party and kidnaps her and takes her to his estate outside London. He believes that she has been lying to him all along and that she is a huge flirt and has been sleeping around with other men. Whitney has no idea what he's so mad about and is under the wrong impression that he's angry at her about Paul, but he won't let her talk or ask questions. He won't even come right out and tell her why he's angry. He's just so enraged that all he can do is act on it! He verbally abuses her and accuses her of all sorts of atrocious things. It's terrible to read this part of the book and emotionally upsetting to see him go so overboard and overreact - it's horrible! Poor Whitney is telling him she loves him and instead he winds up taking her to his bed and virtually raping her! It's just horrible what he does, but as soon as he realizes she had been a virgin, he immediately knows the huge mistake he made and he hates himself for it and she cries in his arms. But, the damage has been done and it's devastating.

She hates him at first, but as time passes she realizes she loves him and eventually they find their way back to each other, but it's a bumpy road, and even then after their marriage, their troubles are still not over. Once again, he jumps to conclusions when he sees an old note she wrote that she never sent to him. He overreacts and treats her horribly, accusing her again of being unfaithful and a lying bitch. He really has issues! This time once they get back together she makes him promise that he'll never behave this way again with her and that he won't accuse her of being something until he's given her a chance to explain herself. He always goes off half cocked and crazy without thinking first! Plus, he'd often manhandle her, grabbing her arms too tightly, etc. It was great storytelling, although disturbing to read at times. The author does her best to show both sides of where Clayton is coming from and why he does what he does, and he is indeed remorseful when he realizes the grave mistakes he has made. He is often much harder on himself than Whitney is, who I think forgave him much too easily. But, she's young and in love with him and she knew he was acting out of love for her, yet I'd be very wary of him if I were her in the future. But of course, that's if this were real life, and this is a romance novel after all!

I'm leaving a lot out since I don't want to reveal every plot detail, but this was a roller coaster ride of a book. The side characters were well developed and interesting as well as the settings and descriptions which I loved: the jewels, the dresses, the furnishings - very well done!

This is a lengthy book and it had it's ups and down, I often laughed and giggled in the first half, and then the story suprised me when it took on it's dark tone, angst took over and I had to read on to see what would happen next, searching for that light at the end of the tunnel. I was exhausted by the end but it was so worthwhile and satisfying!

One niggling thing, I was a little bit annoyed with the enhanced ending in my version of the book which was all about Clayton's brother Stephen who helped in getting Whitney and Clayton back together. I wish I had read the un-enhanced version so that I could have just savored Whitney and Clayton's story and happily ever after ending without all the business about Stephen and the set up for his sequel. I feel like it detracted from the main story and what happens with Whitney and Clayton when she has her baby.

I highly recommend this regency, but I give it a 4.5/5 instead of a 5 because of the brutality depicted in the story by the hero.

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A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught

Book Description:
From sweeping passion to taut suspense, Judith McNaught has entertained millions with a stunning array of emotions in nine dazzling bestsellers. In this beloved classic, "one of the best ever" (Rendezvous), two defiant hearts clash in a furious battle of wills -- in a glorious age of chivalry. Abducted from her convent school, headstrong Scottish beauty Jennifer Merrick does not easily surrender to Royce Westmoreland, Duke of Claymore. Known as "The Wolf," his very name strikes terror in the hearts of his enemies. But proud Jennifer will have nothing to do with the fierce English warrior who holds her captive, this handsome rogue who taunts her with his blazing arrogance. Boldly she challenges his will...until the night he takes her in his powerful embrace, awakening in her an irresistible hunger. And suddenly Jennifer finds herself ensnared in a bewildering web...a seductive, dangerous trap of pride, passion, loyalty, and overwhelming love.

My first book by Judith McNaught, I really enjoyed this medieval. Reminiscent of the medievals I've read of Julie Garwood I instantly liked the heroine, Jennifer, though "the Wolf" took a little more getting used to. This book came out in 1989 and it shows. For one thing our heroine's name. Is it me, or is Jennifer just too modern a name to have been around during medieval times? I know it was a very popular name in the 1980's, so maybe that's it. And it also bothered me that Royce always called her Jennifer in the beginning, not milady, or Lady Jennifer, just Jennifer - which was just not done back then. And then Royce was sleeping in the same tent as her all the time when she was still held captive by him - and no one seemed to raise an eyebrow? These little historical inaccuracies bugged me, but it didn't ruin the book - but still!

The basic gist of the story is Royce is a great knight and landowner in England, a close friend to the king (Henry VII). His brother mistakenly captures Jennifer and her sister from the abbey where they live in Scotland because their father is their enemy. Much happens, and Royce winds up bedding Jennifer (willingly, though she was coerced into it) and it gets out and he has to marry her, but she's still labeled the whore of Scotland. Due to much misundersandings she hates him after this, but is still drawn to his vigor and sexual magnetism. He thinks she is a scheming bitch and lied to him from the beginning and had set a trap for him. She didn't, all she was guilty of was walking up a hill with her sister and getting captured! Eventually love triumphs over all the political and familial tensions they both have to undergo. It's a great story with two powerful leads as our hero and heroine. Jennifer is a good match for Royce and I liked the way she was strong and could stand up for herself and wasn't some shrinking violet under his gaze. She really had some nerve, particularly her antics in sewing his clothes!

Royce was no nonsense. Used to being a conquering warrior, it's time for him to give it up. He wants to settle down at his beautiful castle, marry and produce heirs. Sounds simple, but it isn't for him. Just marrying Jennifer was a trial! Then, once they are married, they must try and overcome their distrust for one another. Just when it looks like they're going to - something happens to ruin it! On top of that, every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to fight the great Royce Westmoreland and in an exciting build up, Royce must fight many at a mock joust which turns out to be more than he bargained for. Not only is he fighting for his life, he's fighting for the love of his life and her acceptance and love for him. Of course, there is a happily ever after ending, but there was a lot of angst and tension getting there. Through much of the book, there is some humor and irony mixed it with it as well as the usual historical aspects of medieval times with horses and swords kings and what not. Oh, there's a fair amount of sex too! *grin*

I am definitely planning on reading through the rest of her backlist, particularly the rest of this Westmoreland series. I'd always heard of Judith McNaught and I'm sorry it took me so long to get around to reading one of her romances. Now I know why she is such a legend, this really was a good book, a well developed storyline, great characters, humor, passion, I enjoyed this medieval romance very much!

4/5

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