Review for "Extreme Exposure" by Pamela Clare

This is my debut review for a romantic suspense set in contemporary times. I must say, I was very leery about delving into a new time period, since I usually read historicals. However, having already read several books by this author, I had a feeling I wouldn't be disappointed. And I was right.

Kara McMillan is a damn good investigative reporter. She's extremely dedicated, hard working, smart and relentless. She is also a single mom. Like many women who juggle a career and motherhood, Kara has put her own needs on the back burner. She hasn't had a date in five years, brushing aside her own wants in order to fulfill those of her young son. But there is more to it than that. Although she won't readily admit to it, it is easier to be busy all the time than to face her fear of intimacy with men.

Along comes Reece Sheridan, an extremely attractive senator, who unbelievably, is one of the good guys. Prior to entering politics, Reece was a school teacher, dedicated to teaching the future generation that one can make a difference in the world. So, to prove his point, he ran for political office and won.

Naturally, politics and journalism are two professions that feed one another. So, when Reece walks into a bar one night, Kara recognizes his face, and introduces herself. What she wasn't prepared for was the Senator's charm and astonishing good looks. What Reece wasn't prepared for was Kara's natural beauty, nothing like her picture in the column of her paper. He is thrown by her drunken inquisition of his sexual preferences, knowing that she will be appalled when she realizes the next day how rude and flirtatious she was upon their first meeting. But Reece isn't appalled. He's intrigued. For some reason, he finds himself drawn to this attractive journalist. But Kara knows that she is treading on shaky ground. She cannot cross that line between her profession and her personal life. A state Senator and an investigative reporter....it just can't be done. But she can't stop thinking about him....about his deep kisses...about his hands burning a trail upon her skin.... and she can't seem to say no when he calls her. But when their careers collide in scandal, Kara is left wondering if she has been betrayed once again by the man in her life. Can she trust Reece and fight for a love she thought she could never have? Will they both lose their lives or will they fight....fight for their lives, for each other and for a love that neither can truly deny.

Pamela Clare delivers with a punch in this tale. There is everything from action, suspense, love, political intrigue, romance and some deadly hot sex. I was involved from the first chapter. Pamela Clare's knowledge of investigative journalism is evident in the realism she brings to the plot as well as the actions of her characters. I loved the idea of our heroine being a single mom with a demanding career, trying to "have it all". Even though our hero might seem a bit too perfect, his idealism fits with that of his character, a truly dedicated teacher. As Reece's and Kara's relationship heats up, the reader is brought to a gripping climax filled with action and intrigue. This is a story with several underlying messages, responsible journalism being but one. I really enjoyed this first installment in the I-Team series and I will definitely reach for #2.

Review for "On A Highland Shore" by Kathleen Givens

I have often wondered if there is such a thing as fate. Are we set upon a predetermined path? Is destiny at work throughout our lives, determining who we fall in love with, our purpose in life, our partner or soul mate, and the manner and time of our death? The hands of fate are but one of the underlying themes in this great tale written by Kathleen Givens.

Gannon MacMagnus is a beautiful, strapping man, half Irish and half Norseman....a proud man, a decent man, an honourable man. He has left his home in Ireland to accompany his uncle to Scotland to help those who have been raided by a band of vicious Vikings. It is here that he encounters Margaret MacDonald...his destiny. Margaret MacDonald is the eldest daughter of a prominent laird in Scotland. She is betrothed to a powerful man, Lachlan, a cousin to the King. But when Lachlan betrays Margaret with her best friend, she is determined to end the betrothal. But as the times dictate, Margaret is to wed Lachlan for the good of her clan. But this becomes the least of her worries, when upon her return home from court, Margaret and her brother and sister discover their village in ruins, every man and women brutally murdered and the carnage left for them to see. Margaret must somehow rebuild her life and help her people. She is told her destiny is to be with "the golden one" and that she will "fight dragons". Is Gannon her golden one? Will she choose the right path and be forever happy or die a tragic death?

I was totally engrossed with this story. I have never read a book set in the early 13th century, or one that deals with Norsemen in Scotland. I was intrigued by the history of this time period, including the battles for land and the raids by the Vikings on the people living on the Western shores of Scotland. But what truly held me were the characters created by this author. I was immediately taken with Gannon. His strength of will and commitment to his family and people were remarkable. But I feel that it was the heroine, Margaret, that took center stage. She was one strong-willed, loving, smart and determined woman. She was not one to be easily bullied by men, something rare for a female of the time. She knew what she wanted....a safe land for her people, a place to call home, and true love with a partner who would honestly listen to her. I could feel her emotions so often in the story...I felt her outrage at her betrayal, her overwhelming grief at the loss of her family, and the soaring of her heart when she looked at Gannon. Although this is a historical romance, it is so much more. There isn't the usual happy fluff. This is an intense tale filled with the political and social realities of the time. There are suspenseful and sometimes graphic battle scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat. Woven within all of this is the emotionally satisfying love story of Margaret and Gannon. I could not put this book down and I highly recommend it to all readers. You will gasp, cringe, cry and laugh. You will become immersed in a time and place that could be both brutally harsh and epically beautiful. And you will want to read more...just as I do.


"On A Highland Shore" is my second book in the Highlander Reading Challenge for 2011.
It also counts as book #6 in the 2011 Historical Romance Challenge.

Check out the book trailer!

Review for "Voices on the Waves" by Jessica Chambers

Imagine it. You have won a two week getaway at a peaceful paradise in Cornwall. The beauty of nature surrounds you and serenity is there for the taking. This is where the tale unfolds in Jessica Chambers' debut novel "Voices on the Waves".

An unlikely group of people are brought together for this holiday at a remote farmhouse. Little do they know that their "lucky" win was not so random. Although they all come from very different backgrounds and from different professions, in some ways, they are very much the same. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that these men and women all seem to be running from a past and searching for a promising future.

This is a novel deeply embedded in its characters. Secrets are revealed, friendships are made and true love sings. At one point, I found myself cheering for a young women, on the brink of finding real love with an honest man; and in another moment, I was weeping for an Irishman lost in his grief. There is a free-flowing, calm style to this author's writing. I truly enjoyed the intertwined stories of each and every character and the ending was truly bitter-sweet. This book is a great beginning to a very promising writing career.
This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given for this review.

Friday Blog Hop Feb.4 to 7

This week's question is "What are you reading now and why are you reading it?"

Right now I am reading Untamed by Pamela Clare. I am reading it for two reasons. One, it fits the criteria for the Highlander Challenge I'm undertaking. And two, it is one hot book with some hot Scottish men! I just finished Pamela's first book in the series, Surrender (you can read my review here) and it blew my socks off! I just had to read the second book and I am loving it! Romance, action, heartache and passion! You have got to read it. So...what are you reading?

Review for "Surrender" by Pamela Clare

The MacKinnons are a group of brothers whose family fled Scotland after the bitter loss at Culloden. They begin anew in the American colonies, dreaming of a prosperous life tilling the earth and reaping its bounties. Partly raised by the native Muheconneok Indians, they become great hunters and learn the way of the land. But the brothers are framed for a murder they did not commit and are forced to fight for the British in the French and Indian War. They despise the British regime and hold fast to their Scottish roots and Highland beliefs even as Iain, the oldest of the three, enlists a band of Rangers, which include his native adopted brothers. Annie Burns Campbell, once a noble lady, has been betrayed by her ruthlessly vile uncle. He sells Annie into indentureship and sends her far from her beloved Scotland, over the ocean to the Americas. When Iain defies orders and saves her from a band of Abenaki Indians, her life begins anew and she becomes a brave frontier woman fighting for survival. Thus begins a historical romance that will be scorched upon your memory.

Our hero, Iain MacKinnon, is a powerful warrior who possesses a body filled with brute force, muscles flexing, protecting all that is his. Yet, he is also a beautiful man filled with a tenderness that makes you weep when he caresses his lover, every bit of emotion filled within his eyes and pouring forth upon her. What woman could possibly resist this combination of strength and tenderness, savagery and gentleness? I surely could not, and neither can our heroine, Anne Campbell.

"She loved his strength, his courage. She loved his fairness, the protective way in which he led his men - a true son of Highland lairds. She loved his gentleness, the way his big hands, so fierce with rifle and blade, moved tenderly over her skin. She loved the deep blue of his eyes, the velvet of his voice, the exotic markings on his sun-browned skin. She loved his manly smell, the hardness of his body, the way his kisses set her aflame."

I absolutely loved this book. Pamela Clare has managed to build a heart-gripping love story set upon the backdrop of the American frontier, in a time filled with the ravages of war. Who would think that a Highlander in upstate New York during the 1700's would be the basis for a tale filled with turmoil, adventure and unrelenting passion. One cannot help but see the resemblances between this book and the great movie "The Last of the Mohicans". I was also reminded of other historical tales, including Sara Donati's Into the Wilderness series and my all-time favourite, Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, of which the later books involve the hero and heroine arriving in the colonies of America. The history in Surrender is intriguing and the battles are vividly described, making me feel the bitter loss of lives on the battle field. There were many times in the book when I felt so deeply touched and deeply aroused. The intimate scenes between Iain and Annie involved both tender lovemaking and hot, erotic sex. The surprise ending made my heart swell and my tears fall, for it was here that Iain learned just how revered he was by his men. Underlying this whole tale is that sense of hope....hope for a new life in a new land with a new family with new-found happiness. I love these words uttered by Iain to his new wife. They reveal, for me, what love and committment are all about....sadness and joy...the price we must pay for true love:

Annie turned to her husband, lifted her gaze to his. "Since I met you, Iain MacKinnon, I seem always to be feelin' both sadness and great joy at once." "Aye, lass, 'tis much the same for me." He kissed the top of her head, wiped the tears from her cheeks, his blue eyes filled with tenderness. "But my Muhheconneok grannies would say you cannae open your heart to one wi'out riskin' the other, and I would rather chance the deepest sorrows of hell, Annie, than surrender the joy you and little Iain bring me each day."

"Surrender" is my first book in the Highlander Reading Challenge for 2011.
It also counts as book #5 in the 2011 Historical Romance Challenge.

Review for "When He Was Wicked" by Julia Quinn

Can you fall in love more than once? When one love is lost forever, can it be possible to find another.... a second chance to feel wanted, desired, cherished, loved? These are the questions running through the very soul of Francesca Bridgerton in "When He Was Wicked", the sixth installment in the Bridgerton series.

Francesca is happily married and blissfully in love with her husband John, the Earl of Kilmartin. She has everything she could dream of...a man who adores her, a family who treasures her, a beautiful home and a cousin (in law), Michael Stirling, who is really her best friend. Without warning, Francesca's world is turned upside down when John suddenly dies. She has become a widow, and the one she instinctively turns to for comfort is Michael.

Michael Stirling has a bit of a problem. He is utterly, totally, completely, wholly, insanely, thoroughly in love with his cousin's wife. From the moment he laid eyes upon Francesca, he was committed....committed to a life filled with lies. He pretended he was the happy rake, content to be unmarried, hopping from mistress to mistress, engaging in behaviour many men would envy. But only Michael knew it was all a lie, a show, a living hell on earth. For every day, he had to hide his true feelings, his utter love and desire for his cousin's wife. A cousin he loved like a brother, a cousin he would never betray. But with John's death comes grief, anguish and guilt because now, Michael has inherited John's title, wealth and home. But the only thing he wants is Francesca. But how could he take his cousin's wife? She feels nothing for him but kinship. She could never find out how he truly felt about her. He could never do that to John. But soon enough, a kiss is shared between Michael and Francesca that unlocks a passion unlike no other. What will happen now...for there is no going back, and Michael can no longer hide his desires.

This book is quite different from what I am used to from Ms. Quinn, but I loved it anyways. It lacks the humourous, quick, easy banter I am so used to but in exchange, it is filled with a wickedness that I haven't seen in any of the previous tales. I truly felt for Michael and his tortured, romantic soul. He was a good man who could not get past the overwhelming sea of guilt he felt in loving his cousin's wife. Even when John died, Michael still wrestled with his conscience, feeling he had committed the ultimate betrayal. When he finally is pushed over the edge, I felt my heart tear in half as he finally admitted his feelings for Francesca:

"It’s because I love you, damn me to hell. Because I’ve always loved you. Because I loved you when you were with John, and I loved you when I was in India, and God only knows I don’t deserve you, but I love you, anyway.” Francesca sagged against the door. “How’s that for a witty little joke?” he mocked. “I love you. I love you, my cousin’s wife. I love you, the one woman I can never have. I love you, Francesca Bridgerton Stirling."

I didn't like the heroine as much as previous female leads in this series. I saw her as indecisive and weaker than other leading ladies. But it was liberating to see a female let her guard down and become a "wicked" participant in the dance of desire. The love scenes were hot and steamy and Michael was, well....the title says it all! This was a wonderful story about moving on, about second chances....if you are lucky enough to get one, keep it close to your heart and hold on.

When He Was Wicked is book #4 in the 2011 Historical Romance Challenge.

Friday Blog Hops Jan. 28th

This week's question comes from Aliyah who blogs at Des Absurdités:

"What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?"

Well, this is a hard one. The one book that I absolutely cannot wait for is the next installment in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. But, alas, I will have to wait another couple of years for that one, since it takes her about three years to write one. However, her latest Lord John book will be coming out this year and that is as close to hunky highlander, Jamie Fraser, as I'm going to get...so I'll take it! How about you? What book are you waiting for this year?

The Connection Between Music and Books

It is 8:10 in the morning and I'm on my way to work. John Legend's sexy baritone is emanating from my CD player and I realize that my mind has just left me....I'm taken away. His words are like the footsteps of my past. My heart aches as he sings:

Take me away from here
Take me somewhere where love feels like breathing
I don't care where we go
As long as I'm there with you

I realize that my heart is breaking, right there in the Tim Horton's drive through. I realize that music, for me, is like reading. I am escaping....perhaps retreating to my past or wishing for a future that could never be. Akin to reading, where I am connecting to the words on the page, I am drawn to the words in this song. The musician is a story teller, evoking in me both passion and heartache. How does this artist conjure up images of my past, emotions I have hidden away in the depths of my soul, that only his melody can evoke? Smells, sights, sounds....they all come rushing at me when he says:

I could tell she's been through pain I could only dream
Nightmares that live where you live
Tears well in her eyes
But she would not let them fall
I'd give the world to know
Where her smile is

It's magic. Authors and musicians....I envy them. What I wouldn't give to possess such a talent....a gift....the ability to transport someone to their favourite place, to make them feel the memory of their first kiss, their first heartbreak, their first real love. So for now, I continue to listen and read.

Take a listen for yourself:

Blog Makeover!

I have been wanting to change the look of my blog for a long time now. I wanted something that reflected more of me....my style, my vision, my personality. Well, when I saw the work of Lori over at Use Your Imagination Designs, I knew I found a treasure! Lori was professional and creative. She managed to create a design that reflected what my blog is all about.....escaping into the wonderful world of books. She gave me that bit of sparkle and whimsy I was looking for, yet kept the unified theme I was seeking. I love the finished product! Thank you so much Lori! I would really appreciate any thoughts from those of you stopping by. What do you think of my new design?

Review for "How To Marry a Duke" by Vicky Dreiling

Picture it. Twenty four women in one room all gathered for a single purpose. All twenty four dressed in their finest attire. All twenty four fanning themselves as they coquettishly peer at their prize. All twenty four vying for the attention of Tristan, the sexy Duke of Shelbourne.

Tristan needs to get married, but he is tired of the little chits he meets time after time, ball after ball, each a giggling little female without the outstanding qualities he is seeking in a duchess. At one such ball he happens upon Tessa Mansfield and is instantly drawn to her. Tristan is surprised to realize that she is Society's notorious matchmaker...the "mantrapper". Tristan decides to enlist Tessa's help in finding a wife. Little does he know what Ms. Mansfield has in store for him....a Regency style bachelor show.

Tristan must choose his bride from the 24 candidates that Tessa has hand-picked for him. He has made it clear that he is not looking for love, only a dutiful wife that will elicit some passion in the bedroom. Tessa, a romantic at heart, is determined to find Tristan not only a suitable wife, but also a love match. The two spend a great deal of time together, and before she realizes what is happening, Tessa finds herself falling for the Duke. Of course, this is unacceptable. She is the matchmaker, and he is her client. But the attraction is undeniable. What will happen if Tessa gives in to her emotions? What if Tristan gives in to the burning desire he feels for Tessa?

This is a thoroughly enjoyable, light-hearted historical romance with a wonderful mix of humour and emotion. I enjoyed the witty banter between the Duke and Tessa. Their desire for one another was palpable and the fire that consumed each of them when their lips met was all-consuming. Vicky Dreiling does a fabulous job of bringing her hero and heroine to life, but I also became engrossed with the secondary characters, especially Tristan's best friend, Hawk, whose story will be coming soon. I cannot wait! The Duchess, Tristan's mother, a sly, witty, tell-it-like-it-is kind of gal, was another character whom I came to enjoy and adore. Even some of the girls Tessa chose to vie for Tristan's hand were well developed and endearing characters. Overall, this is a fun read that will make you laugh out loud and sigh with envy as our hero and heroine find their true love match.

I received this book free from the publisher through the Goodreads "First Reads" contest.

HOW TO MARRY A DUKE is book number 3 in the 2011 Historical Romance Challenge.

CHECK OUT THE BOOK TRAILER!

Another Award!

STYLISH BLOGGER AWARD!

I have been awarded the Stylish Blogger Award by, not one....but two fellow bloggers! Wow! I am very humbled and excited to have received this honour from the Book Angel at Fay-Bay's Books and Lucia at iLive, iLaugh, Ilove Books. So, thank you, thank you!

Here are the rules:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Tell us 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and let them know they have won!

So, here are 7 things about little ol' me:

1. I am over 40 years old...just a little over 40! And I must say I like my fourties....I finally know who I am and I'm not afraid to show it!

2. After almost twenty years with my husband, I am still madly attracted to him. I find myself stealing glances at him, admiring his broad expanse of a chest, those bulging biceps....it's like those romance novels I read!

3. I am a carb-o-holic! Give me some freshly baked bread with butter smeared all over it....I am now salivating.

4. Well, I must have some wine to go with that bread!

5. I live in Canada and I absolutely HATE the cold! I was born in a hot country (Guyana, South America) so that must be why I love it hot, hot, hot and sunny!

6. I think The Rock, aka Dwayne Johnson, is magnificent!

7. I absolutely love reading. I am so glad that after many years of other stuff filling my life, I have returned to my love of books and my way of "escaping".

Now...I am passing on this award to the following great blogs out there:
1) For the love of books
2) Recklessly Reading
3) Readaholics Anonymous
4) Read Hot Reviews
5) Octopus Ink
6) Live...Love...Laugh...and Read
7) Literary R&R
8) Ivan Bookworm
9) Kelly's (Former) France Blog
10) Katie's Book Blog
11) Kate's Library
12) Fall In Love With Books
13) a GREAT read
14) Miss Remmers' Review
15) Musings of a Bookshop Girl

Book Blogger Hop for Jan. 7 to 10

This week's question comes from Ivan who blogs at Ivan Bookworm:

"What book influenced or changed your life? How did it influence/change you?"

This is a tough one to answer. When I was young, Judy Blume opened up a whole new venue of books at a time in my life when I was young and naive. Now, in my early 40's, I rediscovered my love of reading with the help of Diana Gabaldon and her amazing OUTLANDER series. This book opened up a whole new window upon the world for me. I am now interested in a whole new time and place in history. And once again, I have rekindled my love for reading. So what book has altered your life?

Review for "Love In The Afternoon" by Lisa Kleypas

A man off to war. A woman left behind....waiting, hoping, praying. A letter sent and one received. Words on a page....a lifeline for both. Words on a page....windows to their souls.

"Dear Pru,
We're settling in for a long siege. It's uncertain as to when I'll have the chance to write again. This is not my last letter, only the last for a while. Do not doubt that I am coming back to you someday. Until I can hold you in my arms, these worn and ramshackle words are the only way to reach you. What a poor translation of love they are. Words could never do justice to you, or capture what you mean to me. Still...I love you. I swear by the starlight....I will not leave this earth until you hear those words from me."

These are the words sent by Captain Christopher Phelan to Prudence Mercer, the woman he thinks he has fallen in love with. Yet little does he know that Prudence is not the one writing to him. The true author of these letters is Pru's eccentric friend, Beatrix Hathaway. Beatrix did not intend to send letters filled with such tender sentiments. But on their way to Christopher, her "words turned into heartbeats on the page". What will happen when Christopher returns, looking to find Pru and express his undying love for her? What would happen if he found out about Beatrix's unforgivable deception? Christopher could never be hers, even if he declared his love for her on paper....those were just words, weren't they?

This was a truly romantic read, especially the letter correspondences. Words are the most romantic form of seduction any man can use, and Beatrix becomes truly seduced. She is the youngest and most quirky, non-conforming, and lovable member of the Hathaway sisters. Being such a huge animal lover, she often appeared peculiar, wanting the company of animals more than people. Yet in this book, the author has managed to show her true spirit, her love of life and her ability to accept others for who they are. Beatrix doesn't try to change Christopher, even if the horrors of war have changed him forever...even if he suffers from post traumatic stress disorder...even if he is driven by guilt. She understands him, accepts him and loves him. This, Lisa Kleypas' last in the Hathaways series, is a tale with a more serious undertone, but one that will still make you smile, cry and sigh with contentment. This book is a wonderful end to a wonderfully unique series that touched my heart.LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON is book number two for the 2011 Historical Romance Challenge.

Check out the book trailer below:

Review for "The Spymaster's Lady" by Joanna Bourne

As a spy, he's trained to learn everything about the enemy. He knows the colour of her eyes, the village she was born in, the occupation of every member of her family, the way she tilts her head when she smiles, the lilt of her voice when she speaks, the quick spasm of muscles in her back when she primes herself for battle, and even the flash of acceptance in her eyes when she knows she is defeated. Yet Robert Grey longs to know the feel of Annique's hair between his fingers, the taste of her lips as he presses his mouth to hers, the curve of her hip as he strokes her longingly....but this cannot be. He will never know these things...he cannot, for they are enemies.

Annique Villiers is a cunning, young french spy. She finds herself captured by an enemy and imprisoned with two British spies, one of them being the infamous spymaster, Robert Grey. They forge an alliance to escape, thus setting in motion an adventure that moves across France and into England....an adventure filled with danger, deceit, spies, murder, secrets, betrayal and loyalty. Annique holds some secrets that can tear apart a nation, secrets she knows can get her killed. She is good at what she does....but she has met her match in Grey. Soon enough, Grey comes to realize he wants more than Annique's spy secrets...he wants her, and she knows it.

Annique is a heroine like no other. Born into a family of spies, she has been playing "the game" since she was ten. She is intelligent and witty, sly and tenacious, strong and independent, yet somehow, the author has managed to portray a sweet and innocent side to this heroine. Annique is truly french in her actions, mannerisms, speech and romanticism, making her character even more believable, and the author, a very talented one. For once, I believe that the heroine is better developed than the hero. Grey is a good man, and a formidable spy, and he truly does love our heroine. But it is Annique that steals the story and becomes my favourite character.

This is the first book I've read involving spies as central to the plot. I must say, I truly enjoyed the action and intrigue. The plot was cleverly developed with several surprises that left me gasping in disbelief. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, who were witty in their dialogue and charming in their loyalties. I was captivated and enthralled by this story and I now have another author to add to my favourites list.The Spymaster's Lady is my first book in the 2011 Historical Romance Challenge.

Ring In 2011 Blog Hop

As most people are doing this New Year's Eve, I am thinking of the resolutions I want to make for the new year. I have many, some personal and some professional; some family oriented and some fun oriented. Needless to say, I know that there are many ways that I can become a better person for myself and for those around me. All I can do is try my best to meet my goals and work hard to have a happy and love-filled future. All those stopping by for this blog hop, I wish you a prosperous, safe and happy new year. Happy blogging in 2011.

Review for "Married by Morning" by Lisa Kleypas

They say that opposites attract. We have the easy-going, relaxed, devilishly handsome, witty, let-life-happen, devil-may-care, aristocrat Leo Hathaway, also known as Viscount Ramsay. And then there is Catherine Marks...the extremely proper and polite, rigid, eye-glass wearing governess to Leo's youngest sister. The two cannot stand each other, constantly bickering and teasing. Yet, Leo can't stop thinking about her...and it's not the usual teasing and provoking that are occupying his mind.

Catherine has lived through a sordid past, one she continues to hide from. Acting as governess to the youngest Hathaway siblings has allowed her to see what it is like to be a member of a family...a crazy one albeit, but one where you feel unconditionally loved and supported. Something Catherine knew would never be a reality for herself. And Leo.....well, he was everything she loathed....a gambler, immoral in his actions toward women and full of disrespect for his station in life. But God....he was handsome! Then came that kiss in the garden... that kiss Leo had been fantasizing about for so long..... and they both knew that their relationship would have to change. But would they both be able to handle this new path they were forging? Would Leo be able to love someone again after losing his first love and almost himself in the process? Would Marks, as Leo so lovingly calls her, be able to let go of her haunting past and give in to her desires and dreams?

Lisa Kleypas has managed to take Leo, a not-so-likable character in book one, MINE TILL MIDNIGHT, and turn him into a charming, deeply committed man with a devilish sense of humour and a touch of wickedness that will keep his lover forever happy.

"I have the most profane desire to be in bed with you for...oh, weeks, at least...committing every mortal sin known to man. I'd like to do more than sketch you naked. I want to draw directly on you with feather and ink...flowers around your breasts, trails of stars down your thighs." He let his warm lips brush the edge of her ear. "I want to map your body, chart the north, south, east, and west of you."

I really enjoyed this fourth installment in the Hathaways series. Having relished the witty banter between Leo and Marks in previous books just made be look forward to their own story. The sexual tension between these two could be cut with a knife. It is a hot and steamy romance, one filled with desire, longing, passion, erotic love scenes and heart touching admissions. Watching Leo reveal more of his true self to Marks, allowing her to see the genuine man inside touched my soul. Marks managed to withdraw the armour around his heart and allowed him to love again. And in return, Marks learned to trust a man, a man who gave her his body and soul. If you are a fan of Lisa Kleypas or historical romance, you need to run out and get this one. It is a heart-stopping tale that will keep you laughing, sighing and wishing for your own Leo Hathaway.

Review for "Tempt Me At Twilight" by Lisa Kleypas

We all know and are attracted (even if we don't admit it) to that villain of a man, the seemingly cold-hearted, manipulative hunk who, underneath the layers of bravado, just wants and needs to be held, to be wanted, to be loved. Harry Rutledge is such a man in the third installment of the Hathaways series, TEMPT ME AT TWILIGHT.

Harry is the reclusive, handsome, American born owner of the prestigious London hotel, The Rutledge. He is a self-made man and one of the richest in London as well as one of the most mysterious, hence his instantanious attractiveness to all women. He is notorious for his shrewd business sense, his manipulative nature and ruthless determination to get whatever he wants. And what he wants...... is Poppy Hathaway. Poppy is beautiful, intelligent, with a love for life that is engrossing. She wants a normal, predictable, peaceful life, which, of coarse, does not happen when your last name is Hathaway. Staying at the Rutledge Hotel during the season, Poppy believes she has found her true love in Michael Bayning, a young man secretly courting her, witholding a proposal due to his fears that his father will not approve of the match. But if a man truly loves a woman, nothing would stop him from having her. As Harry tells Poppy,

"You were courted by a boy, who had to do as he was told." His hot breath feathered against her lips as he whispered, "You should try it with a man, who needs no one's permission."

Nothing will stop Harry from getting what he wants, especially not a young buck like Michael Bayning. A little bit of manipulation and maneuvering, and Harry has Poppy where he wants her....in a very uncompromising position that could ruin her reputation forever. But what will happen when Poppy discovers that she is married to the villain, a man who manipulates people with his power and money.....a man who doesn't tell her the whole truth.

As the story progresses, Poppy comes to accept Harry for who he is, and in doing so, offers him the love he so desperately wanted and needed his whole life. Harry finally comes to realize and accept that he is deserving of love and that he is capable of loving. Little did he know that Poppy was the woman he was waiting for his whole life, the one who would make him laugh, intrigue him, beguile him, adore him....the one who would unleash in him a profound love that he could no longer contain.

“I have so much love for you, I could fill rooms with it. Buildings. You’re surrounded by it wherever you go, you walk through it, breathe it...it’s in your lungs, and under your tongue, and between your fingers and toes...” His mouth moved passionately over hers, urging her lips apart. It was a kiss to level mountains and shake stars from the sky. It was a kiss to make angels faint and demons weep...a passionate, demanding, soul-searing kiss that nearly knocked the earth off its axis. Or at least that was how Poppy felt about it.

This is another great Lisa Kleypas story. It has it all.... villainous hero, lovable heroine, hot and heavy love scenes, humourous dialogue, and charming secondary characters. I have loved this quirky Hathaway family from the beginning in MINE TILL MIDNIGHT. The author keeps us laughing with the return of the familiar, unconventional family members whom I have come to know and love so well. The author's revelations about Catherine and the obvious growing attraction between her and Leo is enough to make me run to the nearest book store. Thank god for the internet and ebooks.....with the push of a button, I am already engrossed in the next Hathaway love affair.

Review for "Romancing Mister Bridgerton" by Julia Quinn

Penelope Featherington, a self-admitted wallflower. Society sees her as a plump, plain Jane type of girl who is quiet and unpopular and worst of all, a spinster. Yet those very few who get to know her realize that there is more to Penelope...she is witty, charming, intelligent....and so desperately in love with her best friend's brother, Colin Bridgerton. Colin....extremely handsome, flirtatious, suave, witty, charming.....yet he feels that there is something missing in his life. Colin is searching.....searching for a purpose, a way to leave his mark upon the world. These two characters have known each other since childhood, but it is only now, in their later years, that they truly come to KNOW each other and themselves.

I loved the charming, witty Colin Bridgerton from the first time he was introduced in the Bridgerton series. I was very much looking forward to his story. I was even more intrigued once I discovered that he was to fall for his sister's best friend, the plain, plump, unpopular Penelope Featherington. I loved the genuine truth of their love. For Colin, it wasn't a "knock-me-down over the head" kind of love...not even a "she's so hot I gotta have her" kind of love. It was a "wow...she is great...why haven't I noticed that about her" kind of love. It was a bond that grew... a friendship that blossomed into a need for another person, a person he realized he could not live without. The love scene that Colin and Penelope finally share is just that.....a LOVE scene, not a hot and steamy sexually arousing interlude, but a scene that is so filled with deep, honest love for another that I couldn't help but reach out for my own love. Colin's admission of his feelings for Penelope just made me melt:

He murmured her name, tenderly taking her face in his hands. “I love you,” he said, his voice low and fervent. “I love you with everything I am, everything I’ve been, and everything I hope to be.”

“I love you with my past, and I love you for my future.” He bent forward and kissed her, once, softly, on the lips. “I love you for the children we’ll have and for the years we’ll have together. I love you for every one of my smiles, and even more, for every one of your smiles.”

Julia Quinn has managed to create characters that are truly relateable. We all have insecurities.... we all have questioned our purpose in life.....we all have longed for a person that we knew we could never have. I found myself smiling throughout this wonderful story, even laughing out loud at times. And of course, I too fell in love with Colin Bridgerton, insecurities and all.

Highlander Reading Challenge

I have never entered a reading challenge. Something about reading a set amount of books by a certain time makes me feel unnecessarily pressured. Well....along comes a Highlander and SUDDENLY I have no issues entering a reading challenge! Wow...the things a muscular, brawny man in a kilt can make you do!! This sounds like a fun challenge that I will have NO problems completing. Lori at Escape Between the Pages is hosting this challenge. Head on over to her blog to sign up. I can't wait to meet all of those hunky, claymore wielding Scotsmen with their seductive Scottish burrs!

Review for "Seduce Me At Sunrise" by Lisa Kleypas

Kev Merripen, a mysterious, handsome gypsy man who considers himself nothing but a brute. Winnifred Hathaway, a beautiful, well-bred women with a very determined spirit. Two people who seem to be so very different, yet two people who have shared an inescapable bond since they met as children.

Kev was raised to fight, fight till the death or be killed himself. He was treated like an animal and trained to fight like one. Left for dead, he was discovered and rescued by the Hathaways, who brought him into their home and treated him with a gentleness that was foreign to him.
From the moment Kev "felt" Win's presence, he has loved her. But he feels he is no good for her, beneath her, a man with nothing to offer a woman like her. Yet, he feels he has to protect her. He will never leave her. But Win knows better. She knows the gentle soul that resides within the heart of her mysterious and brooding Kev. She loves him....he comforts her.... and her nights are filled with a longing for this man she has known forever. She is determined to make Kev admit his love for her and succumb to the passion and yearning that he struggles so hard to control.

I really liked this 2nd book in Lisa Kleypas' 'Hathaways' series. The characters were memorable and I especially loved the hero, the ever-brooding Kev. He worked so hard at keeping his true self bottled up, keeping his desires under control and his feelings in check. Yet deep down, he was hiding words like these:

"I love you, he thought, looking at Win. I love every part of you, every thought and word...the entire complex, fascinating bundle of all the things you are. I want you with ten different kinds of need at once. I love all the seasons of you, the way you are now, the thought of how much more beautiful you'll be in the decades to come. I love you for being the answer to every question my heart could ask."(pg.252)

Lisa Kleypas teases her readers, throwing Kev and Win together and then pulling them apart. Their desire for one another was palpable and their love scenes were smoldering....well worth the wait. I also enjoyed the second story line about Kev and his brother Cam's journey to find their estranged gypsy family. What ensues is surprising and ironic. Those of you looking for a historical tale about the journey and power of love, pick up SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE....your heart will not be disappointed.