The Black Duke's Prize by Suzanne Enoch

Book Description:
Exiled to London by her disreputable uncle, Katherine Ralston discovers her family estate has been sold to Nicholas Varon, the "Black Duke" of Sommesby, a professedly reformed rake who is taken with her charms.

Quickie Review:
I enjoyed this early Suzanne Enoch regency romance which I picked up because it was offered on kindle for next to nothing.  Suzanne Enoch has become a favorite, so I was curious to read one of her earliest books.  Although it seemed a bit tame (aka, no sex) and lightweight compared to her more recent ones, it was a cute romance.

Kate Ralston is taken under the wing of her godparents in London after her ruthless uncle, now her guardian, forces her to leave her family estate, which she owns by right. She's has lived there all her life and is not about to let anyone take it away from her.  He's trying to cheat her out of it so he can sell it to keep the money for himself. While in London, her godparents launch her onto Society and her kindly godfather goes behind her back to arrange a "buyer" for the property so it won't be lost for good and he can then arrange to get it back for Kate.  While experiencing the London Season she meets Nicholas, the Duke of Sommesby who finds her refreshing as much as beautiful. He's the usual tall dark and handsome rakish type who has sworn off marriage, but he changes his rakish ways and opinion of marriage once he meets Kate.  He also happens to be the buyer her godfather has arranged to buy her family estate, which causes all sorts of problems down the road.

As Kate and Nicholas fall in love, together they wind up foiling her uncle's plans.  She's not happy when she finds out that Nicholas is the one buying her home and a big misunderstanding takes place between them that nearly ruins her reputation amidst the ton.  If only her godfather had told her what he was up to!  This romance has the usual characters: the smitten alpha hero who manages to surprise the ton with his open admiration of Ms. Ralston, the ingenue heroine with an endearingly strong backbone, the kindly older godparents who love her as much as a real parent and lastly the villainous uncle who kidnaps her for greed and and gets his just desserts for it.   It all adds up to a happily ever after ending in which the hero comes to her rescue, vowing eternal love forever and a day.  Set amidst the splendor of Regency London this was a cute story - but personally, I prefer her current "spicier" efforts. ;)

4/5

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When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

Book Description:
Miss Linnet Berry Thrynne is a Beauty . . . Naturally, she's betrothed to a Beast.

Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales where, it is rumored, his bad temper flays everyone he crosses. And rumor also has it that a wound has left the earl immune to the charms of any woman.

Linnet is not just any woman.

She is more than merely lovely: her wit and charm brought a prince to his knees. She estimates the earl will fall madly in love—in just two weeks.

Yet Linnet has no idea of the danger posed to her own heart by a man who may never love her in return.

If she decides to be very wicked indeed . . . what price will she pay for taming his wild heart?

Quickie Review:
An original and well done rendition of the Beauty and the Beast tale. Piers, a brilliant doctor has a crippled leg and... umm... a crippled something else as well. He refuses to marry Linnet, the gorgeous redhead who has to come to his castle in Wales with his estranged father, a duke who made a series of mistakes in his past which terminated his marriage and caused the crippling injury to his son. Linnet is considered damaged goods amidst the ton in London, unfairly for she has done nothing to deserve it.  (This part of the story was a bit much and unbelievable, but it served it's purpose by making Linnet the victim of the impression that everyone thinks she is pregnant by a prince and hence needs to marry to save her reputation.)  Piers' father is also under the impression she is carrying a prince's child. A good thing, as far as he's concerned for he had given up hope his ducal line would continue due to his son's... umm... injury in his nether regions.

And so begins the story of how Linnet and Piers are thrown together, both refusing to marry yet both unaccountably attracted to the other which leads to some sexy scenes between them as they become playmates in every sense of the word.   It turns out that Piers has manufactured the tale that he cannot sire children in order to make his father feel guilty from his past behavior as an opium addict when Piers was a child.  I had trouble with Piers, I liked him yet I also disliked him for he was extremely gruff and I felt he should have forgiven his father much sooner.  Thankfully, Linnet's entry into this damaged family is like a breath of fresh air.  From her perspective she thinks they're all mad and the games and pretending they use against each other are ridiculous. They should all just get on with their lives and forgive and forget.  Not so easy.

This was much more than just a simple romance. I loved many of the details and developments in the storyline including a natural ocean pool (very cool) where Piers swims everyday for therapy and teaches Linnet how to swim.  The relationship between Piers divorced parents was a nice side story that I really enjoyed and the outbreak of Scarlet Fever and it's consequences to Linnet was compelling and kept my interest until the very end.  Overall an engrossing story and one of the better Eloisa James' romances I've read.

4/5

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Lord of Ice by Gaelen Foley

Book Description:
Damien Knight, the earl of Winterley, is proud, aloof, and tormented by memories of war. Though living in seclusion, he is named guardian to a fellow officer’s ward. Instead of the young homeless waif he was expecting, however, Miranda FitzHubert is a stunning, passionate beauty who invades his sanctuary and forces him back into society. Struggling to maintain honor and self-control, Damien now faces an even greater threat: desire. 

A bold, free spirit, Miranda has witnessed the darkest depths of Damien’s soul–and has seen his desperate need for love. But before she can thaw his unyielding heart, she must endure a terrifying nightmare of her own. . .

I really enjoyed this third installment in the Knight Miscellany Series.  Damien Knight, newly awarded the title of Earl of Winterley due to his heroics on the battlefield, is suffering from post-traumatic syndrome, fighting his inner demons and memories from the Napoleonic Wars.  His attacks occur when loud noises like fireworks occur and he imagines himself back on the battlefield, fighting amidst the cannons and gunshots.  He goes into a kind of trance and becomes Berserker-like, a human fighting machine, bent on killing his enemies, real or imaginary.

The last thing he needs while trying to find peace and quiet at his newly acquired country estate (a huge old rambling mansion in desperate need of repair and furniture - a real fixer upper) is to learn of the murder of one of his fellow soldiers.  Damien finds himself guardian to the soldier's niece, a beautiful young nineteen year old girl still in school.  Damien has no idea she's all grown up and upon visiting her to inform her that he will be her new guardian, the adventure begins.

Miranda dreams of being an actress.  The "school" where she has been living is horrible.  The head of it is a pedophile and treats the young girls abominably.  Miranda, the eldest, keeps watch for the younger girls, determined to save them from the lecherous headmaster.  But at night, she sneaks off to the local theatre and becomes a different person on the stage.  Thanks to her luscious curves and enchanting face and hair, she is a popular attraction, no one has any idea that she's really a virginal school girl.  Of course, who happens to catch her show?  Damien Knight.  Hoping to rest and relax and perhaps pick up a comely wench, he visits the theatre the night before he is due to visit his new ward.  He is mesmerized by the fair Miranda.  He wants her. Now.  Literally trapping her outside the stage door after the show, they have a few heady moments.  She takes his breath away.   Convinced she's a woman of the world, he tries his best to get her to spend the night with him.  Although she is sorely tempted, she runs away in the snow back to school.  Damien follows her in time to see her ambushed by thugs who try to kidnap her.  Berserker Damien takes over and he kills most of them, while the rest flee in terror of the monster with the ice blue eyes.  Miranda is a bit overwhelmed and frightened herself of how changed he became, running for her life back to school.

This first part of the book centers on how Miranda and Damien meet, for meet again they do the next morning at her school.  She has a lot of explaining to do.  He is determined to try and forget what happened the night before between them and treat her in the manner worthy of a guardian.  In other words - no more thoughts of jumping her bones.  Miranda, unfortunately has other ideas.  She's rapidly falling for her new guardian who is becoming more and more heroic in her eyes.  Handily dispatching the lecherous schoolmaster at her school (once he finds out the truth after Miranda tearfully tells him all about it) they head off to London so she can make her debut, which begins the 2nd part of the book.  While there, Miranda meets her cousin and despicable uncle.  The same uncle who killed his own brother (Miranda's former guardian) to get her fortune of fifty thousand pounds.  The same uncle who hired the thugs to kidnap her.  The same uncle who now wants her dead.

So, we've got a few things going on in this book.  Damien, afraid his bouts of madness will hurt her, tries to keep his distance, but their mutual attraction is much too hard to resist.   There's only so much a grown man can take when a young nubile female is constantly throwing herself at him.  Miranda is not willing to take no for an answer.  She wants him.  Now.  Meanwhile, he's trying to figure out who is trying to harm her, too many "accidents" have been happening to her to ignore.  As he starts to put two and two together can she help him during his dark periods?   Can he keep her safe from her ruthless uncle? There's a big finale with lots of blood and gore (reminded me of a movie from the '80's with Arnold Schwarzenegger) at his country estate, but all ends well.

This was an entertaining story.  It had it's sizzling moments and Miranda and Damien made a great couple, loved the chemistry between the two. But I felt the last twenty pages of the book were tacked on as an afterthought when Damien is recruited to the battlefield once again after Napoleon's escape from Elba.  Still, it served it's purpose for some angst and worry and a final resolution for his military career.

4/5

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About That Night by Julie James

Book Description:
Though Rylann Pierce tried to fight the sparks she felt for billionaire heir Kyle Rhodes the night they met, their sizzling chemistry was undeniable. But after being stood up on their first date, Rylann never expected to see him again. So when she finds herself face to face with Kyle in a courthouse nine years later, she’s stunned. More troubling to the beautiful Assistant U.S. Attorney is that she’s still wildly attracted to him.

Just released from prison, Kyle Rhodes isn’t thrilled to be the star witness in a high-profile criminal case — but when Rylann comes knocking at his door, he finds she may be the one lawyer he can’t say no to. Still as gorgeous and sharp-tongued as ever, she lays down the law: she doesn’t mix business with pleasure. But Kyle won’t give up on something he wants — and what he wants is the one woman he’s never forgotten...

Another winner from Julie James - I am in love with her writing! I loved, loved this story of Kyle Rhodes and Rylann Pierce. I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down. Great story, great chemistry, snappy dialogue and a legitimate quandary about their relationship. I didn't want it to end!

When I first heard that James' next book was going to be about Kyle Rhodes, twin brother to Jordan, the heroine from her last book, I was not overjoyed to hear it.  The fact that he was supposed to be a billionaire, good looking dead ringer for Sawyer on "Lost" (I've never even seen the show) did not wow me.  I thought this was going to be the story of how a spoiled trust fund baby playboy can change his roguish ways thanks to the love of a good woman who teaches him how to be a responsible grown up.  Yes, About That Night isn't too far off the mark from that scenario, but I was wrong to pre-judge.  In fact, my reaction was very similar to Rylann's the first time she meets Kyle  in a campus bar at the end of her first year of law school.  As he turns on his charm to get to know her better, she writes him off, wanting nothing to do with him, convinced he's only interested in a one night stand.  Yet, he manages to worm his way into her good graces and walks her home that night, lending her his flannel shirt when she gets soaking wet.   They share an unforgettable kiss good-bye and he asks her for a date for the following night.  Against her better judgment, she acquiesces. What happens on their date?  He stands her up, succeeding in fulfilling all her preconceived notions about privileged rich kid jerks.

On the surface Kyle Rhodes is the son of a billionaire who has had it easy most of his life.  He dates Victoria Secret models, drives an amazing sports car and is devilishly good looking.  Is it any wonder my initial reaction was just like Rylann's first impression of Kyle?  It just goes to show, you cannot always go by first impressions.   About That Night picks up where A Lot Like Love leaves off and James' goes back to the winning formula borrowed in part from Pride and Prejudice (a favorite of mine) in which you cannot judge a person based solely on the size of their bank account and, in the case of Kyle Rhodes, if they also happen to be an ex-con.  I'm over-simplifying the plot line, but that's basically what happens.

Fast forward several years later.  Rylann is now a successful U.S. attorney, newly arrived in Chicago from San Francisco after recently breaking up with her long time boyfriend.  What has Kyle Rhodes been doing?  He's been in jail.  Yes... jail.  Because he hacked into Twitter after a humiliating public break up with his Victoria Secret model girlfriend he broke all sorts of federal laws and was sentenced to jail time.  Although, he was only there for a few months, he technically is now an ex-con and is faced with an uphill battle of having anyone take him seriously.  He and Rylann's paths cross in court at the time of his release (thanks to some deal making in A Lot Like Love).  Of course, both remember "that night" and the sparks fly between them once again.  This time, they're captured on film together and a picture of Kyle looking at Rylann's boobs is plastered all over the newspapers.  Of course, they both deny that's where his eyes are directed.  I loved this scene when they meet again.  James' courtroom scenes are her forte, they are the BEST!  Rylann is cool, calm and collected on the outside, but inside Rylann is simmering.  Kyle is even more handsome than ever and Rylann has already forgiven him for the way he stood her up all those years ago.  It turns out on the same night as their date his mother was killed in a car accident.  I'd say that a pretty good excuse.

Once they meet again they are thrown together often because he agrees to help her as a witness for a case she's working on about a shady prison guard and the murder of an inmate at the same prison where Kyle was serving time.  I won't go into the details of the case, but it serves it's purpose in bringing Kyle and Rylann together again.  He wants to see more of her and this is a great excuse to get close to her.  They become friends again by working together, but their mutual attraction complicates things and creates an ethical dilemma for her.  He's her main witness in a case and it would be completely wrong for her to date him at the same time.  Plus, she's new to her Chicago office and he's an ex-con, the notorious Twitter Terrorist her office went after ruthlessly.  How can she possibly date him?  She'd come across as completely unprofessional and it could probably damage her career irrevocably-or so she thinks.  Once the murder case wraps up, that solves one part of her dilemma, but Rylann is still really hyper sensitive about what her new office's reaction will be about her dating him openly.  She's convinced that the fact he was in jail, no matter how briefly, will reflect badly on her.  They decide to see each other on the sly, but Kyle becomes dissatisfied with the arrangement and begins to feel like she's embarrassed to be seen with him.  You see, Kyle is trying to get past the Twitter debacle.  He has a great idea of how to start up his own Internet security business and wants to be taken seriously.  It irks him that he and Rylann can't go public with their relationship.  Does she care enough about him to risk her job?  This is the big dilemma in the novel.  What does he have to do to earn her approval?  And why should he have to earn her approval in the first place?  Shouldn't she accept him for who he is as a person and not his public persona as the Twitter Terrorist playboy billionaire heir?  I sympathized with Kyle more than Rylann, but she has her reasons.  She's the new girl in the office, her last boyfriend really did a number on her and as a woman in a man's world in the U.S. Attorney's office, she feels a need to be taken seriously.

This is where Julie James excels, she shows us both sides of the coin, but for the most part, I identified with Kyle more often than Rylann.  In fact, the whole book is really Kyle's story.  His fears, his insecurities, the poignant love for his sister and father after his mother's death and his desire to become successful without the help of his father.  Now add in his need to have Rylann's unconditional love.  We see Kyle come a long way from that guy Rylann first met in Urbana.  Kyle is smart but he has to be respected in the computer industry as well.  Even though he's a whiz when it comes to computers and the ins and outs of security he's facing an uphill battle to get over the Twitter episode and it's repercussions.  He has a great idea for his business and runs with it.  I loved how we see the whole thing come to fruition and how he launches his new company - it was great!  I was so happy for him, I won't spoil it all, but he cleverly manages to find a way to clean the slate and start over.  Yet, as much as things are looking great for his new company, there is still that nagging worry about Rylann and her preoccupation with her job and reputation.  Things come to a head between them, he doesn't want to sneak around anymore and she's going to have to make a choice.  Either it's him or her job.

I won't tell you what happens next, but I can assure you there is a happy ending. This is a winning contemporary romance, albeit it may seem dated twenty years from now, but it was a fun read.  Third in her U.S. Attorney's office series, I also enjoyed seeing some of the old favorites from the previous books, particularly Jack Pallas from Something About You, one of my all time favorites!   

Julie James is an auto-buy author for me.  I expect her books to have loads of humor and snappy fast paced dialogue which keep the stories moving forward all the way to the end.  They're tight and well written, no dull parts which make them quick reads as well.  I always identify with her characters and laugh and cry along with them.  Did I mention the sex scenes are hot as well?  *fans self*  You can't go wrong with her books!

This is a keeper!  Read it and enjoy!


4.5/5

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The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley

Book Description:
Lady Eleanor Ramsay is the only one who knows the truth about Hart Mackenzie. Once his fiancee, she is the sole woman to whom he could ever pour out his heart.

Hart has it all-a dukedom, wealth, power, influence, whatever he desires. Every woman wants him--his seductive skills are legendary. But Hart has sacrificed much to keep his brothers safe, first from their brutal father, and then from the world. He's also suffered loss--his wife, his infant son, and the woman he loved with all his heart though he realized it too late.

Now, Eleanor has reappeared on Hart's doorstep, with scandalous nude photographs of Hart taken long ago. Intrigued by the challenge in her blue eyes--and aroused by her charming, no-nonsense determination--Hart wonders if his young love has come to ruin him . . . or save him.

Fourth of the Mackenzie Brothers series, this is Hart's story and I loved it!   Hart is the eldest brother, inheriting the dukedom from his father, who was a cruel and ruthless monster who left his mark on all the sons.  Hart, as the eldest took on the burden of protecting the rest from their father's notorious temper - particularly Ian, who stars in the first book of the series, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (which is a great book!)  To make it simple, Hart has overseen and controlled the entire family for many years now and is incapable of giving up his autonomy over the family.  Yet, he secretly yearns for the relaxed and carefree life he once knew when he was in love and engaged to Eleanor Ramsay - the woman he loved who got away.

Now it has been ten years since Eleanor broke their engagement.  Hart is older, though still very handsome and delectable.  A widower and a rising star who means to become prime minister soon, he wants Eleanor back in his life as a wife.  He'd never stopped caring for her and he needs a hostess to help with his political aspirations as well.  Just as lively and effervescent as ever, she takes his breath away.  Despite the fact she is impoverished and barely making ends meet with her father in Edinburgh, she returns to London to help Hart.  Not with his political career, but because she believes he's being blackmailed.  As it turns out, someone is sending Eleanor photographs that were taken of Hart as a young man - in the nude.  She wants to help solve the mystery of who has them and she's intent on getting the rest of them back - twenty in all that were taken at the time by his former mistress.  The thought that Eleanor enjoyed looking at the pictures of him (no matter how irresistible) when they were taken by his mistress did strike me as strange though - I would have been insanely jealous!

The descriptions and imagery of these photographs are very sexy and - beautiful.  Quite droolworthy.  It's all very tasteful but incredibly sensual. The idea of the gorgeous, young and handsome Hart in his kilt with nothing else on - and then even less?  You get the idea...  Eleanor is so daring and original, she's up for anything and once things resume romantically, she decides to take more photos of Hart in the buff to update her growing collection.  Their photo sessions are loaded with eroticism.  He's such a ham!  I loved reading about how she and Hart become closer and closer - more and more like old times, though it's still not a given she will take him back.  They had once been lovers, anticipating their wedding day when they were engaged, but things went wrong and Eleanor broke it off, thanks to Hart's long time mistress who decided to let Eleanor in on a few secrets about Hart.  I enjoyed his flashbacks and what happened between them and the day she returned his ring.  It made me even more sympathetic towards Hart, who in the past books comes across as cold and aloof.  Entirely much too forbidding, but I love his type of hero, so my attitude was "bring it on!"  The bigger they are, the harder they fall.  This older Hart has passion and feeling, I really loved him and it was a very satisfying ending to see how his life turned around so unexpectedly giving him the chance to put in perspective what it takes to make one happy.

I loved Eleanor as well and thought she was great for him.  Though as the story develops and it's clear they are going to get back together, I wasn't crazy about the quasi-bondage scene between them and it left me a bit confused about why he didn't want her to know everything about him. Still, I loved them together as a couple, she's so good at dealing with him and it's obvious they never stopped loving one another.   She's smart and witty, proud, beautiful, she's a great heroine.  I think she's the perfect match for him and she will be a perfect duchess as well.  Everyone loves her too.  They're all so happy to see she's back in the Mackenzie fold, yet all is not perfect in the Mackenzie world.  Someone is trying to kill Hart and it's up to Ian to help.  They have a sort of a telepathic bond between each other in which they can tell when the other is in trouble or lost.   I loved how we learn more about their relationship as brothers, plus it was great seeing so much of Ian and Beth from the first book!  Glimpses of the rest of the large family as well!

Overall, this was a great story, plus I loved the cover and Hart is just as I imagined on it - handsome with short reddish brown hair - he looks great!  The older Hart is even sexier than the younger one!  Yummmm.  

I highly recommend!

4.5/5

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A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

Book Description:
Welcome to Spindle Cove, where the ladies with delicate constitutions come for the sea air, and men in their prime are... nowhere to be found. Or are they?

Spindle Cove is the destination of choice for certain types of well-bred young ladies: the painfully shy, young wives disenchanted with matrimony, and young girls too enchanted with the wrong men; it is a haven for those who live there.

Victor Bramwell, the new Earl of Rycliff, knows he doesn't belong here. So far as he can tell, there's nothing in this place but spinsters... and sheep. But he has no choice, he has orders to gather a militia. It's a simple mission, made complicated by the spirited, exquisite Susanna Finch—a woman who is determined to save her personal utopia from the invasion of Bram's makeshift army.

Susanna has no use for aggravating men; Bram has sworn off interfering women. The scene is set for an epic battle... but who can be named the winner when both have so much to lose?

I simply loved this story of how genteel, Susanna Finch, used to running things in her little seaside town of Spindle Cove comes up against (literally) Bram, aka Victor Bramwell, a no-nonsense career army officer bent on returning to his regiment after suffering a near crippling knee injury.  He has a month to organize a local militia and whip them into shape for a big military review for the top brass.  Yet the only men in town aren't exactly the military type and he's got his work cut out for him.  Susanna doesn't like the idea of Bram and his men stirring up the delicate sensibilities of the women in town.  Or rather, she doesn't like the way he's stirring up her own sensibilities, much less all sorts of other things inside her.  From the first moment they meet sparks fly and passion ignites.  As much as they are on opposite sides of the equation when it comes to his militia and her girls, the two of them learn to give in and compromise.  Of course, they fall in love along the way and I adored reading about how it all comes about!

Aside from the fun storyline that kept me interested throughout the entire book, I loved the humor and silliness during some parts.  Spindle Cove is a seaside resort that Susanna has set up as a haven for awkward young women and there are virtually no men around, except for the kind that are entirely non-threatening to her women of delicate dispositions.   Yet when Bram and his ne'er do well cousin, Colin and Corporal Thorne come to town, what's the first thing on their mind?  Sheep! (you'll see what I mean!)  It's so silly and funny how all these sheep throw Susanna and Bram together!  Plus, it's so cute how even a little lamb winds up becoming a pet to Bram..  Susanna names him "Dinner."  Ha-ha! I loved it!  The side stories in the book were good too.  A couple of surprises caught me off guard as well, not what I was expecting!

Not only is there plenty of humor and surprises, but the sensual scenes were well done too!  Exciting and provocative, maybe a bit on the unrealistic side, but quite hot and earned Bram a spot on my swoonworthy hero list.  (I still think underwater sex is over-rated though.)  I was completely caught up in the love story between Susanna and Bram.  I was rooting for them and loved their interaction with one another.  Great chemistry.  But of course, they have a fundamental problem.  He wants to go back to the army because his pride tells him he must to compensate for his injured leg, but she doesn't want him to abandon her and leave Spindle Cove.  Yet despite the knowledge he'll most likely leave, she can't stop being with him.  She's fallen for him and it's fun!  She knows it's wrong, unmarried women just don't go out and have passionate affairs with army officers (in the middle of the village green no less!) yet I thought her struggle was kind of realistic.  Once you start, it's hard to stop when you're in love, all you want to do is be with that person no matter what.  They're having this clandestine love affair and it's passionate and wonderful, but where is it going to go - what's going to happen after his month is up and the big military review takes place? Will he change his mind about going or not?  He can't just love her and leave her, can he?  I had to keep reading to find out, in fact I really found it hard to put this book down!

To sum it up, I loved this book.  A sexy, humorous romance with an original plot that includes a likable hero and heroine, a quirky village and it's citizens and a poignant and revealing side story involving Susanna's medical background as a teen and her current relationship with her father that brings it all together at the end.  A great start to a new series which I'm eager to continue with from this new to me author.  This book had it all, I highly recommend it!

4.5/5

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To Scotland, With Love by Karen Hawkins

Book Description:
In this saucy battle of the sexes, bestseller Karen Hawkins pits a hard-headed Scottish lord with an unusual family curse against a headstrong heiress who has a solution for every problem...except her own wayward heart.

When Lord Gregor MacLean learns his childhood friend, Venetia Oglivie, has been abducted by a fortune hunter, he rides off to Scotland in hot - and very annoyed - pursuit. Venetia's soft heart has gotten her in major trouble this time: if he doesn't rescue her swiftly, the scandal will ostracize the provocative wench! 

The only sensible member of her family, Venetia is sure she can fix any problem, even this one. So when an irate Gregor catches up with her, arrogantly expecting a hero's welcome, the sparks between them begin to fly. Then an unexpected snowstorm traps them at an inn, and Gregor discovers his feelings for the lovely Venetia are far warmer than he realized - fiery enough to burn down the inn! Now if he can only convince Venetia that his motive for marriage isn't duty... but desire.

Quickie Review:
Continuing on with the 2nd book in the MacLean Curse series, this was a cute story of a series of mishaps that occur when the headstrong Venetia Ogilvie is nearly ruined when she embarks on a journey with a hapless suitor who she thinks is taking her to her grandmother's house in Scotland.  Instead, he has tricked her and intends to elope with her to Gretna Green.  Nearly bankrupt, he's after her money, and he also seems to think she'll enjoy traveling to Italy after the wedding where he can write his book and she can do laundry!  Hah!  I laughed aloud at this one!  Fortunately, her best friend, Gregor MacLean will have none of it!  Cursed with the ability to create massive snowstorms when he loses his temper, he unleashes a whopper in April and chases the couple on horseback to Scotland.  Once he catches up with them at a roadside inn, he poses as their guardian, explaining to the other guests that they are brother and sister, in order to avoid a scandal and the ruination of Venetia.  He is furious with Venetia for being so gullible as to run off in the first place and thus the two of them are barely on speaking terms the entire time at the inn.  It doesn't help that they are all snowbound (thanks to Gregor's temper tantrum) and he is now acting all possessive and domineering, convinced she should marry him to avoid scandal.  Without much ceremony he tells her that they should get married.  Mad that his abrupt proposal is so unromantic, she refuses him and then succeeds in getting jealous when the other female guests make a play for him!  For most of the time, these two just can't seem to see what's right in front of them!  It's so obvious they've been in love with each other for years, yet neither one of them has even considered the idea!  It drove me nuts that it took Venetia and Gregor so long to figure this out! She's over thirty and he's nearly 40? What took them so long???

Still, besides this, there were many amusing moments involving the other guests at the inn.  Venetia, for a woman who's nearly 30 years old, came across as much too naive and ingenue like.  She enjoys helping others and manages to make a mess of things because she's not exactly very good at judging people's characters.  Sort of like an Emma complex.  Gregor was the usual, handsome Scot, forever elegant and self assured.  I enjoyed the way he put everyone in their place, particularly Venetia's wannabe bridegroom who was probably the funniest part of the whole book.  Still, why did he wait so long to realize he and Venetia were meant for one another?  Lightning struck when he realized she could have been roped into marrying someone else!  But even after he nips it in the bud and foils the attempted elopement he still doesn't realize the truth staring him in the face!  Same thing with her - or else she was just too afraid to admit her real feelings.  Despite a few passionate kisses, they were both forever under the impression they were better off friends!  A convenient excuse to avoid going out on a limb and saying "I love you."  What a relief by the time they finally do come to their senses!

Overall, a nice bit of fluff, but nothing very memorable, still I will continue with the series to see what's in store for the rest of Gregor's brothers.

3.5/5

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