Driven to succeed, Alex's only desire is to win, win, win—at all costs! A champion race-car driver, he lives like he drives—fast, reckless and always number one. But after a huge crash, with his racing career facing ruin, Alex must confront his biggest fear: failure.

Physio Libby Henderson is there to help him get back to fitness, and all Alex wants to do is get physical! Libby's dealt with more challenging things in life, but it's taking all of her professionalism to keep this stubborn playboy at bay!

Title: THE FEARLESS MAVERICK
Author: Robyn Grady
Series: The Notorious Wolfes, book 4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Books, Harlequin Presents
Year of release: 2011, September 27
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Bought via The BookDepository

First line:
The moment Alex Wolfe’s car went airborne, he knew the situation was bad.

Memorable Scenes:
- their weekend on the Gold Coast > highlight: dancing on the beach, loved that scene!


QuickScore-Verdict:
Alex Wolfe and Libby Anderson are the main couple of this fourth installment in the Notorious Wolfes series. They are a race car diver and the physiotherapist who has to nurse him back into his race car after a shoulder injury during second race of the season.

Alex is disarmingly charming beneath a veneer of steel determination. His rough past made him the man he is now. Libby is as tenacious as Alex is. She carries the consequences of her surfing accident with poise and grace but there are times insecurity creeps up on her. I loved the chemistry between Alex and Libby. It was completely in line with the rest of the series with Libby as the feisty young woman falling under the magical thrall of yet another enigmatic and seductive Wolfe sibling.

As a Formula 1 fan I was delighted with the setting. I loved reading the racing stuff and through Libby's character it was also shown that the author knew a lot and or did her research on physical therapy as well.

I also really liked Robyn Grady's writing style. It was fluent, fast-paced and engaging. Combined with the characters' chemistry, snappy dialogues and the themes that were much to my liking I utterly enjoyed this 4th installment in The Notorious Wolfes series.

Favorite Quotes:
This man’s power to captivate with a single look, the slightest touch, was palpable. She’d like to meet the woman who was immune to the magic of that smile. Charm was as instinctive to this man as taking a corner at death-defying speeds.

Giddy. He whipped up a hurricane inside of her, a dark powerful storm that tossed her off course and hurled her places that promised such blissful satisfaction.

Wanted: willing apprentice to handle indecently arrogant (but incredibly sexy) tycoon


With her family business in crisis, Polly Prince does her best to keep calm and carry on. But hard work alone can't save her London company from a takeover by the infamously ruthless Damon Doukakis…or her traitorous body from the lethal sensuality of her boss!

As his new apprentice, Polly accompanies Damon to Paris to negotiate the most challenging business deal of her life! Worse still, Polly must at all costs resist Damon in the most dangerously romantic city in the world…

Title: DOUKAKIS’S APPRENTICE
Author: Sarah Morgan
Series: 21st Century Bosses
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Books, Harlequin Presents line
Year of release: 2011, September 27
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Received an ARC from the author for review

First line:
"He's here. He's arrived. Damon Doukakis just strode into the building."

Memorable Scenes:
- all the arguments between Polly and Damon > sizzling foreplay, every one of 'em


Polly Prince (not wowed by the name but what’s in a name? The character certainly wowed me) is the executive assistant at her father’s ad agency. She’s a proficient, driven, defiant and very creative workaholic. She’s used to taking care of herself because of an absent father who'd rather chase women half his age then take care of his daughter. When her father’s latest conquest leads to the ad agency taken over by Damon Doukakis, Polly grabs the chance to show what’s she’s worth to the company.

Damon Doukakis is the billionaire media-tycoon who takes over Prince Advertising and his reasons aren’t solely business driven. He has a score to settle with the CEO, Polly’s father. Damon is quiet, calculating and protective of the people he holds dear. He’s volatile under a veneer of calm coolness and he’s ruthless both in the boardroom and outside of it.

After reading and loving A NIGHT OF SCANDAL I was thrilled that Sarah offered me another book of hers to read and my expectations were definitely met with DOUKAKIS'S APPRENTICE.

The twist created by family stuff and something too spoiler-y for me to reveal here as it would take away from the tension between Polly and Damon and the enjoyment of the story offered the base for smoldering chemistry and lots of verbal sparring between them and I loved it. I also loved you see both Damon and Polly fall under each other’s spell, despite their fight against it.

From the first page to the last I was drawn into Sarah Morgan's fast-paced and attention-grabbing writing style and the intriguing premise. This is Harlequin Presents at its best! The tension, the daughter of the enemy-trope, the setting and the emotional back-stories, it all helped turning this book into an awesome read. And the way Sarah Morgan writes kisses? Who needs a full-on sex scene when you're treated to make-out scenes of this caliber! Oh and the full-on sex scenes…they weren't too shabby either ;)

DOUKAKIS’S APPRENTICE was another awesome read! When I read a book in one sitting that says enough. I just couldn't stop reading until I was finished. Sarah Morgan has a knack for great, emotionally layered Harlequin Presents with well-rounded characters that jump off the pages.

Favorite Quotes:
Hauling his gaze away from the seductive curve of her bottom, Damon slammed the lid on that part of him that wanted to flatten her to the boardroom table and indulge in raw, mindless sex.

(Damon wonders when Polly learned to speak French)
Polly flushed. “Just kidding. I promised myself that if a gorgeous Frenchman ever whispered sweet nothings in my ear I wanted to be able to understand him.”
“If he’s whispering nothing it would probably be better not to understand him.” Damon said dryly and his words made her laugh.

The sudden darkening of his beautiful eyes told her he felt it too and rejected the unwanted chemistry as completely as she did. Perversely, that rejection didn’t hurt as much as aggravate. Her emotions spun and suddenly she wanted to press her mouth to his and kiss away the sarcasm and cynicism that flowed from him.

Caught off guard, Polly tumbled headlong into the addictive heat of his kiss, her mouth colliding with his in a fusion of intimacy that was shocking in its intensity. The exploding heat was fierce enough to fuel a nuclear reactor, the hunger so all-consuming it devoured her preconceptions about just how a kiss could feel because this kiss was like no other.

Her sweet mouth seduced his with a slow, sure gentleness that ripped away his defences and sent fire tearing through every part of him.
Balancing on the dangerous knife-edge of a new addiction, he felt his power to control his emotions and actions drain at a frightening rate. The part of his brain warning him to stop this madness right now was eclipsed by the part that reached out greedily for the fulfillment of pleasure.

Watching Damon dance was a sensual feast. Every movement made her think of sex, every glance he sent in her direction was a promise of what was to come.

“I love you.” He spoke the words softly but his eyes were full of passion and heat. “I’ve spent my whole life making sure I didn’t fall in love. Then I met you again and suddenly I didn’t have a choice.”

Sebastian…Sharp. Cool. Controlled.

Ruthless in business, Sebastian is at the top of his game professionally. Emotionally he keeps himself alone, aloof and almost untouchable.

Escaping her wedding, it takes one look at ice-cool Sebastian for Bollywood star Aneesa Adani to be hooked! Letting Aneesa in could ignite the fire that melts even the hardest of hearts…

Title: THE STOLEN BRIDE
Author: Abby Green
Series: The Notorious Wolfes, book 3
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Harlequin Presents Line
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Year of release: 2011, August 23
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: won an ARC on the author’s website

First line:
Aneesa Adani was stuck in a waking nightmare.

Memorable Scenes:
- Sebastian undressing Aneesa > the buildup of that scene was excellently done
- The scene after Nathaniel's wedding ceremony > very emotional, lump-in-throat moment when Sebastian finally opens up
- The end > the authors of this series have the uncanny ability to write some powerful and beautiful endings to the books


Aneesa Adani is a popular Bollywood star about to get married to a man she doesn’t want or love but at the last minute pulls the runaway bride act. She’s pragmatic, caring, sweet and open. I really liked how throughout the book Aneesa grew from a sheltered naïve young woman to a woman strong enough to defend her views and needs.

Sebastian Wolfe is the owner of a chain of hotels, son of a mentally unstable mother and an abusive father he has always been one to withdraw from others and depend solely on himself. He’s guarded, cerebral and a loner. I loved that Sebastian would apologize immediately to Aneesa when he said hurtful things and not stubbornly hold on to his own opinion.

What I liked most about the romance was how both Sebastian and Aneesa were equally affected by each other and the chemistry between them, even if Aneesa is quite innocent and inexperienced and Sebastian is this smooth, cool-headed man of the world. Watching them fall in love and grow close despite their individual reasons for not wanting it was a joy to read.

Abby Green's writing is enthralling in its simplicity and has a very pleasant pace thanks to the way she applies the main characters POVs. There's a very good balance between action, emotions and characterization and for me, once I started reading I just couldn't stop. She gave me some very pleasurable reading hours with her contribution to the Notorious Wolfes series.

THE STOLEN BRIDE is another wonderful installment in this series. Not only does it fit in perfectly and add more insight the Wolfe-family puzzle, it also offers a unique couple, a refreshing twist on an age-old trope in category romance, a small look into Indian wedding ceremony habits and the right balance between conflict and romance. I now have my eye on Robyn Grady who will be providing the next book in this series and I can’t wait to read that one!

Favorite Quotes:
Coming from a large family of mainly half-siblings, having been born to a man who’d married three times, had numerous affairs and begat eight children, to say that Sebastian had a jaundiced view of the holy sanctity of marriage was a huge understatement.

Sebastian was grateful for Daniel’s solid presence when Aneesa had appeared in the dining room. Or else he wasn’t sure if he would have been able to restrain himself from smashing the heavy oak table aside and picking her up like some kind of caveman to bring back to his bedroom, to ravish her.

“You may or may not have meant what you said last night, but all day I’ve been praying that you did. Aneesa…I’m in love with you. I’m so fathoms-deep in love with you that I’m drowning. I’ve been falling for you since the moment our eyes met that evening, when you looked at me and made my world go spinning in the other direction. But I had no idea what was happening. Not until we came back here…and I saw what love is, and recognized it for the first time in my life.

Act I—set up
Survive This! is Kate's life…as are unscripted fantasies about Ty, her boss and best friend. But when Kate is suddenly injured, Ty decides filming is too dangerous for her. This will be Kate's last adventure for a while.

Act II—plot point
Kate is furious and threatens to quit. But Ty needs her. So what can he do? Keep her occupied by filming every minute of their intense and definitely unrehearsed sex!

Act III—cliff-hanger
It's Kate's choice now: Her hard-won career? Or end credits featuring dangerously wild sex with Ty? Ha. Some choice. But either way, the final cut is guaranteed to be a thrilling ride!

Title: CAUGHT ON CAMERA
Author: Meg Maguire
Series: No info on whether this is a series or not
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Blaze
Year of release: 2011, March 22
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Bought via The Book Depository

First line:
Kate scanned the trees, one thought in her mind--food.

Memorable Scenes:
- the filming scene (Kate filming Ty) in the emergency shelter/cabin > intense and sizzling hot
- first full-out sex scene > I'm surprised the pages of my book didn't combust into fiery flames...so hot


My first review note for this review was:
“Ooh goodie! Co-workers AND friends-to-lovers trope. That's an extra point for Meg Maguire right there on page 8 already.”
And it just got better and better.

Kate Somersby is a production assistant and personal assistant to Dominic Tyler. She’s a control-freak and a take-charge kinda woman. Dom “Ty” Tyler is a survival reality TV show host. Ty is one yummy Aussie and Kate is one stubborn woman. The banter between Kate and Ty was awesome! It felt very natural and easy and the underlying attraction comes through loud and clear without being too obvious or contrived. With subtle small tidbits of information, thrown in almost casually, you get a thorough knowledge of the main characters' backgrounds, back-stories and personalities.

I must honestly admit there were some bits that didn't completely make sense to me and I didn't understand the reason for them (Kate's reason for filming Ty pleasuring himself, Ty insisting Kate slap him) but I didn't care because I was engrossed in the story and the romance and I trusted Meg Maguire to make it all make sense in the end.

This is my first encounter with Meg Maguire's writing and I can't say anything other than that I've fallen in love with it. Her writing is indescribably good! It sucks you in and makes you want to keep reading. All elements --descriptions, characterizations, humor, setting, dialogue, heat-- fit perfectly together and flow into each other seamlessly. Comprised of complicated, richly layered characters and characterization, adventurous setting and scenery and an intense and red-hot romance I'm still in awe of how Meg Maguire incorporated this into a 220 page Blaze.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA is hands down the best Blaze I've read and without being dismissive about categories or the Blaze imprint, I think this should've been a full-length 400+ pages book and even then I still wouldn't have had enough of Kate and Ty.

Favorite Quotes:
Ten thousand women probably had school-girl crushes on Dom Tyler, and Kate didn’t need him knowing she was among them. Still when he got that gleam in his eye and lowered his voice to that devious hush he was more than just Kate’s friend and boss. He was the man who set her on fire off camera, no flint or tinder required.

For a dozen or more racing breaths he stared down at her; Kate was helpless on her knees, but he was the one rendered helpless.

Watching his fist running up and down his c#ck, his body a playground of bare flesh just waiting to be used and enjoyed and made to beg for mercy… Her own body wouldn’t allow her to pretend indifference. She stared at him with shameless fascination.

She whispered against this ear. “You keep me up nights, Ty.”
He seemed to lose the ability to form words, reduced to primitive sounds–the same ones she’d heard him make two years earlier, ones that had haunted her memory when they were spoils of some other woman’s victory. But now these sounds were hers. All this animal need was hers to satisfy.
“Say my name, Ty,” she breathed.

Lucas…Playboy. Rebel. Rogue.

No one denies Lucas anything. Women fall at his feet and into his bed at the click of his fingers. His life is charmed, reckless and carefree. He is definitely a bad boy.

Grace Carter knows uncontrollable Lucas could ruin her career, and she won’t tolerate his wayward behavior, despite their chemistry. But working with Lucas is thrilling, and after just a small dose of his magic, even Grace’s prim and proper shell begins to splinter.

Title: THE DISGRACED PLAYBOY (In the UK it was released under the title SHAMELESS PLAYBOY)
Author: Caitlin Crews
Series: The Notorious Wolfes, book 2 (In the UK the series name is Bad Blood Collection)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Publishing, Harlequin Presents line (In UK published by Mills And Boon, Modern line)
Year of release: 2011 July, 19 (UK: May 2011)
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Received an ARC from author for review

First line:
Grace Carter glanced up from her computer, frowning at the figure that sauntered so confidently into her office high above the cold, wet February streets of London, without so much as a knock on her door as warning.

Memorable Scenes:
- Lucas and Grace's first kiss > explosive culmination of the built-up sexual tension between them
- the last chapter > an awesome ending and one of the best I've read in the Harlequin Presents line to-date


Grace Carter is an events manager at department store Hartington who has left her troublesome past behind and is determined not to let any man turn her head anymore. She’s polite and levelheaded but underneath that unflappable and seemingly rigid exterior is a passionate woman waiting to be let loose.

Lucas Wolfe is a shameless flirt and playboy. He’s quick-witted and wears sarcasm like a well-fitted coat. Lucas is a hero you would love to dislike because he’s just that tad bit too cocky and self-assured but you can’t because you see where his attitude comes from and you feel his pain and his need to act like he does. However there were moments where I wanted him to lower his guard and trust Grace a little more.

The build-up of the sexual tension between Lucas and Carter is subtle and excellently done. I was eagerly waiting for that tension to break and the chemistry between them to come to combustion. I loved the verbal banter and battle of wits between Lucas and Grace.

What I also liked was that both of them are complex characters that are so much more than meets the eye. Lucas isn't the useless, devil-may-care playboy persona he shows the world and Grace is not the starchy, proper, all-work-no-play ice queen she wants the world to see her as. Caitlin Crews had this uncanny way to show the reader her characters in a certain way and by making you privy to their thoughts and inner turmoil you see so much more of them than the story tells you.

There aren’t many secondary characters but Jacob, the eldest Wolfe sibling, makes another crucial appearance. Other than him and some co-workers at Hartington, who are more walk-ons than true secondary characters, the book is primarily focused on Grace and Lucas.

The first installment of The Notorious Wolfes had me hooked already and THE DISGRACED PLAYBOY drove that hook a little bit further in. With a complex couple whose characterization was sublimely done, a sizzling romance and an ending that made me tear up I find it hard to be patient for the next book in this multi-authored series. Beware, Abby Green I'm coming for you next!

Favorite Quotes:
“Lucas Wolfe,” she said, as a gesture toward good manners, though her voice was flat.
(…)
“All six resplendent feet and then some,” he drawled, his dark brows arching high above his wicked green eyes. “At your service.”

Lucas realized, belatedly, what a powerful asset she had in that voice of hers, so soft and sugary and deadly all at once. A rapier-sharp blade sheathed in honey and cream. It was impressive.

“You can look at me directly,” he said in that low, insinuating, endlessly amused voice, far too close to her ear. “I can’t imagine why you would fight the urge. I am , after all, quite marvelously handsome.”
“I believe the word you’re looking for is conceited,” Grace replied (…)
He laughed, completely unfazed, as ever. “Conceit cannot possibly be the right word, (…) I’ve had independent confirmation in the press for years. I am a glorious male animal. You may as well simply admit the truth.”

“I don’t know who I am!” The words seemed almost torn from him. He pulled back and stared down at her. “Don’t you understand? I want to give you the world, Grace, but I have no idea how to do it.”
“I do not want the world,” she simply said, sliding her hands up to hold his beautiful face between them. “I can get that for myself, if I wish it. I only want you.”
“I am yours,” he said, his words ringing through her, around her, with the force of a vow. “In every way.”

Underneath the movie star’s good looks is a man battling with the demons of his past. No one knows the real Nathaniel, they only see the pin-up, the man he pretends to be.

Until one night he is forced to rely on Katie Field, an ordinary young woman from a very different world to Nathaniel’s. She may be starstruck but she isn’t blinded by the bright lights of fame. Can Nathaniel trust her enough to reveal the man behind the mask?

Let the seduction begin…

Title: A NIGHT OF SCANDAL
Author: Sarah Morgan
Series: The Notorious Wolfes, book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Publishing, Harlequin Presents line
Year of release: 2011, June 21
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Received an advanced copy for review from author

First line:
They were waiting for him to fail.

Memorable Scenes:
- Nathaniel opening up to Katie about his family > throat lump moment
- The days in Rio > with its high point: the sexy scene in the lift *fans self*

Nathaniel Wolfe is a big Hollywood actor. He’s broody, sarcastic and guarded, hiding a vulnerable man beneath his outward bluster. He also lives up to his bad boy reputation with his naughty, bold remarks towards Katie.

Katie Field is a costume designer. She’s down-to-earth, realistic and says what she thinks. She’s a real chatterbox, especially when nerves hit her and I really liked her self-deprecating sense of humor.

A NIGHT OF SCANDAL is the first in a multi-authored series brought by HP: The Notorious Wolfes. The series covers the stories of the 8 siblings born from different mothers and all fathered by the horrible William Wolfe. This first book tells the story of Hollywood star Nathaniel Wolfe and costume designer Katie Field. Circumstances force them to spend the night together, in a very platonic way, but once the press gets wind of it, they’re forced to flee to a private island resort and there the platonic side of their relationship is soon forgotten.

The opening paragraphs hooked me like no book has hooked me in a while. The chemistry, banter and the battle of wits between Nathaniel and Katie were a joy to read. The attraction is undeniably there but both try to not give into it. However when they do give in, the sparks fly off the pages. Ms Morgan definitely delivers on the sensual tension she creates.

I really like Sarah Morgan's voice. Her characters have depth to them and she incorporates humor in her writing, always a plus with me. In less than 200 pages she took me on an entertaining, thrilling and emotional rollercoaster ride. From amusement to anger to tears to sizzling sensuality...they all claimed my state of mind at one moment or another while reading. My first encounter with Ms. Morgan's writing has been an awesome reading experience and an unexpected pleasure.

This first installment has most definitely whetted my appetite for all other 7 stories in this series. I need the to read the other Wolfe siblings' stories and if they're half as good as ANOS was I'll be in romance reading heaven. (Meanwhile I’ve read the second book and it was just as good as this one!)

Favorite Quotes:
It was immediately obvious that she’d renewed her make-up and then scrubbed it off, afraid it would look as if she were trying too hard. Nathaniel gave a humourless laugh. She didn’t need to try. Make-up or no make-up, her mouth was still the same full tempting curve that made a man want to dive straight in and sample the flavour.

“If I leave you here they’ll feed on you like sharks attacking raw meat.”
“If I’m the raw meat in that analogy, then it isn’t a very flattering description. No woman wants to think her thighs would provide sufficient food for one shark, let alone sharks in the plural.

“Where are you planning to go?”
“A journalist-free zone. I need to lie low until the Sapphire ceremony. A deserted island. Sun, sea and se–“
“I am not having sex with you.”
A ghost of a smile touched his mouth. “I was going to say seclusion, but sex sounds good to me. You talk when you’re awake and you talk in your sleep. It remains to be seen whether you talk during sex.”

Katie hurried down the steps. Like Cinderella, she thought, running from the ball. Except that she hadn’t lost a shoe. Both shoes were on her feet, but her heart was in pieces.

Elle Amery has grown up a fighter—her late mother's bad-boy-loving reputation was not the best inheritance….

So when smooth-talking Sean McElroy turns up with a pink-and-white ice cream van called Rosie that's apparently hers, Elle tries to ignore the traitorous flicker of attraction!

Family-oriented Elle is the last girl Sean should want, but as they embark on a journey filled with unexpected twists, these two misfits may discover they are the perfect fit for each other!

Title: TEMPTED BY TROUBLE
Author: Liz Fielding
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Category
Publisher: Harlequin (Romance) and Mills & Boon (RIVA)
Year of release: 2011, June 7
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Received from the author for review

First line:
Life is like ice cream: you have to take it one lick at a time –Rosie’s Diary

Memorable Scene:
- Sean removing a ladybug from Elle's hair > sweetness!


Elle Amery is a responsible young woman who puts others' needs and wellbeing before her own. She’s determined not to follow in her mother's promiscuous footsteps. She’s also independent and sensible and self-sufficient.

Sean McElroy is an illegitimate son who bares the emotional scars of being unwanted. He sees himself as an outsider and though he’s very direct and blunt, he’s guarded when it comes to showing emotions.

Without any explicitness but with plenty of sizzle I was pulled into the chemistry between Elle and Sean. The attraction between them was palpable throughout the book. They meet and are thrown together through unusual circumstances and the undeniable chemistry is what draws them towards each other constantly. This built up the kind of sensual tension I love to read in my romance novels.

I really liked how the back-story and characterization was slowly given form by giving little tidbits at a time. This made it very intriguing and kept me reading, just to find out what the deal was with Sean, Elle and their families. And also after finishing the book I really had the feeling I knew Elle and Sean.

Though the story is very character driven, the plot of the ice-cream van and the mystery surrounding Elle’s great-uncle formed a very nice change to the emotional and romantic focus throughout the book.

Liz Fielding's writing is such a joy to read. Fluent, easy and clean it made me fly through this book. There's a subtle humorous undertone throughout the entire story, despite the emotional stuff going on, that makes you smile without even knowing you're doing it.

TEMPTED BY TROUBLE is a cute story that's filled with emotional depth and sizzling chemistry. Excellently written it held my attention from start to finish and every time I had to stop reading I didn't want to. I really loved the quotes at the start of every chapter. They were funny and spot-on. If you're an ice cream lover, you should read this book for these quotes alone. Even I, a non-lover of ice cream loved them!

Favorite Quotes:
“Who wants to know?” she asked.
Her hormones might be ready to throw caution to the wind –they were Amery hormones after all– but while they might have escaped into the yard for a little exercise , she wasn’t about to let them go ‘walkies’.
“Sean McElroy.”
His voice matched the looks. Low, sexy, soft as Irish mist. And her hormones flung themselves at the gate like a half-grown puppy in a let-me-at-him response as he offered his hand.

She should object. Tell him to keep his hands to himself. Except for that she’d have to be able to get her lips, tongue and teeth in a row to form the words. And then make her mouth say them.

Falling in love wasn’t hard. Compared to not falling in love it was a piece of cake. That required concentration. Lose it for a moment and love slipped unnoticed under your defenses as sweetly, as effortlessly as an ice cream sliding down a parched throat on a summer’s day. No drama or noise. Just a smile, a touch, a kiss was all it took to bring down even the most powerful fortifications, so that without warning you were falling, with nothing to grasp hold of.

Lucy Bright can't believe it when she's plucked from secretarial obscurity and transformed into the pampered fiancée of a slick retail guru. But then she discovers it was all a publicity stunt! Rushing away from the media frenzy, she bumps—literally—into the arms of delicious tycoon Nathaniel Hart….

Spooked by their instantaneous chemistry, Lucy flees—but Nathaniel is determined to find his barefoot beauty. Though all he has is one very expensive red designer stiletto to help him!

Title: MISTLETOE AND THE LOST STILETTO
Author: Liz Fielding
Series: Standalone, Mills & Boon Cherish imprint
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited
Year of release: 2010, November 9
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Received from the author for ARC-review. Unfortunately due to several circumstances I’m only just now getting around to writing and posting the review and was not able to post the review before release.

First line:
Rubbing at the base of her engagement ring with her thumb so that the huge diamond sparkled, Lucy Bright made an effort to shake off the feeling that things weren’t quite as fairy tale as media coverage of her romance with Rupert Henshawe would suggest.

(Reviewer’s note: decided to go with the first full sentence of the book as everything before was a calendar/diary entry)

Memorable Scenes:
- Nat and Lucy's very first encounter > wonderfully written as I felt like I was right there with them.

Quickie Review:
Lucy Bright’s whirlwind romance and plans for a fairy tale wedding to her boss Rupert Henshawe come to an sudden end when she finds out she's been used as a publicity stunt and her Prince Charming turns out to be the ugly frog.

The heroine Lucy is a survivor. She’s impulsive, passionate, resilient and bubbly yet with substance. I really liked her as the heroine of this book. Nathaniel Hart, Lucy’s knight in shining armor is a very intriguing character. There’s lot more to him than meets the eye and he has a tragic back-story.

The romance in this short book was very nice. It was subtle despite the immediate chemistry between Nat and Lucy and very fitting the line and story. Liz Fielding has a lovely and agreeable writing style that pulls you in immediately. There's subtle humor and she also almost imperceptibly adds the characters' back-stories into the rest of the story. It's fast-paced without unnecessary information or descriptions.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first encounter with Liz Fielding's work. MISTLETOE AND THE LOST STILETTO is a very cute story that gets you in the mood for Christmas and Christmas shopping (I know, I know...it's frigging April/almost May but there were circumstances that prevented me from ARC-reviewing this book, to my utter shame...).

Favorite Quotes:
His world was reduced to the pounding of his heart, her breath against his cheek, her gold-green eyes peering up at him over a voluptuous cowl collar that was sliding, seductively, off one shoulder.
She smelled like a summer garden, of apples and spice and as he held her, a rare, forgotten warmth rippled through him.

Lucy was drowning in raw sensation, Lying in the arms of a total stranger, drowning in the quicksilver heat of his eyes, his touch, parting her lips to gasp in air, struggling to breathe as she went under for the third time.
What was she thinking? What was she doing?

Surfer—make that ex-surfer—Carly Winters can't believe she accidentally faxed an erotic letter to…a secure military line? Now navy SEAL Jonathon "Hunt" Huntington is at her door, fax in hand, asking her how the fantasy ends.

Because Carly's parents think Hunt is her new boyfriend, and Carly does need a wedding date ASAP, Hunt's ready to play—only on one condition. Carly's got to teach him to hang ten. Problem is it's been a while since Carly's career-ending accident and she's terrified of anything aqua. But with Hunt, letting go just may make her fantasy a reality!

Title: Coming Undone
Author: Stephanie Tyler
Series: SEAL trilogy, book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin (Blaze)
Year of release: 2007, April 1
Format: eBook (Category), 256 pages
Source: Bought at eHarlequin
First line: “I started with, I think it’s sexy when we cuddle.”
Memorable scenes:
- All the beach scenes > wonderful and emotional
- The scene in the bar with Samantha and Ty > If you read nothing else of this book, please do read chapter 11! *Sigh*

Quick & Dirty-review:


Hero: Jonathan "Hunt" Huntington (28), Navy SEAL Lieutenant

Heroine: Carly Winters, recovering from a severe surfing accident which ended her professional surfing career and has made her fearful of surfing again and has impeded her from picking up surfing again, from a socialite family

Plot: To be honest, I read this book a long time ago and didn’t take any notes about the plot so I can’t dish up an eloquent plot summary here. The only thing I remember is Hunt finding Carly because she sent a naughty fax to a wrong number and and misunderstanding leads him into accompanying her to her sister’s wedding, they fall in love and he helps her overcome her fear of the sea after her horrible surfing accident. There was also a lovely tentative secondary romance plot with Samantha (Carly’s friend) and Ty (Hunt’s brother) that was pretty intense and impressive.

Writing: The writing is hot and engaging, once I started I couldn't stop.

Likes:
- Depth of the characters, for a short book they were very well-rounded
- multi-layered story with the multiple (4) POVs

Dislikes:
- Too short
- Missed some more suspense
- Carly's family. As characters as such not the way they were written

Verdict: I was really pleasantly surprised by this book and honestly I shouldn't be because it was written by Stephanie Tyler, who never fails to deliver for me! Even in the short span of a Harlequin Blaze she manages to bring a lovely emotional, action-packed story with amazing characters, multiple POVs and a wonderful secondary romance that makes me ache for that story to be completely told, preferably in a single title, full length book.

Favorite Quotes:
Oh Lord, he was on the phone with her sister. And doing a fine job of soothing the savage beast with the combo Jedi-SEAL mind-control thing.

“So, Samantha, what do you do?” Ty leaned an elbow on the crowded bar, cordoning off an area for her where she wouldn’t be bumped. He’d moved her away from the guy she’d been speaking to earlier, gently but firmly, as if he already owned her. His focus was all raw energy and on her alone.
“For a living?” she asked.
“We could start there.”
“I’m a teacher.” She took a long swig from her beer bottle, and her heart beat a tiny bit faster. She might have imagined it, but she could have sworn he’d moved closer to her.
“Hot for teacher,” he said, caressing her forearm.
“Like I’ve never heard that one before.”
“Never from anyone like me. Want to take a ride on my bike?”
“I’ve never ridden a motorcycle before.”
Ty winked. “That’s good. I like virgins.”
“Are you always this forward?”
“Yes. Always. I go after what I want.”

A GOOD AGENT NEVER LETS THE JOB BECOME PERSONAL…

Who wanted her dead? That's what Claire Samson wanted to know. On the run and alone, there was only one man she trusted to find her. Recovery agent Luke Hathaway was the best at locating and saving, and she needed the best if she wanted to live. But the handsome agent who promised salvation had some conditions of his own. If he were to help, she needed to stick close by his side. Very close. And the only thing more dangerous than her current situation was the way Luke made her feel. From the protective look in his green eyes, she could tell he felt the same. But every second that brought them closer together was also ticking toward an explosive confrontation that might tear them apart….

Title: Under the Gun
Author: HelenKay Dimon
Series: Harlequin Intrigue’s Ultimate Heroes
Unnamed series, book 1 (name of the series will be added shortly)
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin (Intrigue)
Year of release: 2010, March 16
Format: Mass Market Paperback (Category), 224 pages
Source: Bought at the BookDepository.com
First line: Luke Hathaway scanned the surveillance monitors set up in the nondescript Washington, D.C., office building’s underground security headquarters.

Quick & Dirty-review:

Summary: Claire ran out right before they were supposed to get married two years ago. Now on the run and wanted for murder, she runs to Luke for help clearing her name.

Hero: Luke Hathaway, stubborn, determined, professional. His antiques recovery business is a front for an agency that finds and rescues missing people. Claire abandoning him left an undeniable impression on him and at first he is hesitant to help her.

Heroine: Claire Samson is smart, courageous and resilient. However there was something about her story that I just couldn’t grasp and I didn’t get a satisfactory explanation for it. I understood that her childhood played a big part in her reason to leave Luke as he was withholding part of his life from her (his real job) but that still didn’t explain why she not only left him practically at the alter but also chose to marry another man after she did.

Plot: A very well drawn and well-written, action-packed plot that kept me at the edge of my seat from start to end.

Writing: I really liked HelenKay Dimon’s writing. It’s crisp, clean and fast-paced. I just think that an Harlequin Intrigue is not enough for me to really form a founded opinion on it. So I am definitely reading more of her work in order to do so.

Likes:
- The action that kept the story going in a very fast pace
- Luke’s fellow operatives, a wealth of future books there!

Dislikes:
- Claire’s character and back-story. I am still on the fence about Claire because I liked her courage and determination but couldn’t get a solid explanation for her actions in the past.

Verdict:
This was a book of firsts for me. My first HelenKay Dimon book and my first Harlequin Intrigue. I had not tasted HelenKay Dimon’s writing before this book and didn’t know what to expect from a Harlequin Intrigue except suspense. I can safely say that I really liked this first encounter. The thrilling start immediately had my attention and held it and it was filled with hard-core action with the gunfights, fistfights and the suspense. I definitely want more and have my next HelenKay Dimon HQN Intrigue climbing Mount TBR!

Favorite Quote:
She fell into the kiss, returning his sure touches with her own. Hot breaths. Guttural moans. The memories of being with him came rushing back. Not that they had ever truly left. A woman didn’t forget being overwhelmed by the joint pleasure of a man’s mouth and hands.
Luke had that power over her.

Back Cover:
POSSESSION IS ONLY HALF THE FUN...

The moment she arrives at her rented vacation cottage nestled in Scotland, Zoë Daniels feels it--an arousal so powerful she's compelled to surrender to the unusually forceful carnal desires...with nearly anyone who crosses her path. Crawford Logan, the boat builder with the wayward grin. The devilish restaurateur Cain Davot, who seems to know more about Zoë than he lets on. And even her sexy neighbor Grayson Murdoch, whose eyes delve deep into her soul as he explores every inch of her body.

Yet there's something unsettling about the way the locals watch her, something eerie about these overwhelming encounters. Zoë knows she's not quite in control of herself and begins to wonder if there's any truth to the legend of Annabel McGraw, a powerful, promiscuous eighteenth-century witch who once owned the cottage, and whose spirit is rumored to affect anyone who stays there. Zoë doesn't believe in anything that even hints at the occult, but now strange visions are turning frightening...and only one man's touch can bring her back to earth.

The unmistakable sound of a woman being pleasure echoed through the woods above the village of Carbrey. The sound was deeply sensual, and powerful -as if she dared anyone to defy her needs.

And it was with this sentence that Saskia Walker ensnared me in the trap of a beautifully written story. When you start a book with a sentence like this you set some expectations for the reader and this reader especially. I am happy to report that the expectations were met in the most satisfactory way.

From the moment Zoë Daniels sets foot in the village of Carbrey to enjoy a much needed vacation, a strange urge of unusual arousal settles over her and she finds herself in the middle of a battle between good and evil magic forces. She turns out to be pivotal in warlock Cain Davot's plans to bring his long lost love, the witch Annabel, back. However not everything is what it seems as Zoë finds out when she comes in contact with Annabel's ghost and her helpful, sexy and protective neighbor, Grayson Murdoch.

With a fairly small cast of characters Saskia Walker weaves an entertaining paranormal story, sprinkled with eroticism. In fact she tells two stories and both stories, Zoë's and Annabel's, were delivered to the reader in a perfect way, each with its own distinctive feel, yet brought together effortlessly and intriguingly to want to keep on reading. It was rightly paced, had subtle humor, a fascinating plot and was explicitly erotic. With intricacy the story works its way to the culmination point and everything is unraveled. I loved both the well-written set-up of the book and the great wrap-up in the ending. Contrary to some other books in this genre the ending wasn't rushed but well rounded and fitting the rest of the book.

RAMPANT is written in an agreeable writing style and I was soon pulled in by it. It’s a very nice mix of erotic and paranormal. It left an impression of a well-done and fascinating book that is definitely able of holding the reader’s attention. Erotic scenes were explicit but functional and tasteful. No sexing for the sake of sexing but beautifully written scenes that didn't overshadow the plot or the characters. Plot, character and romance were all tuned in to each other and made the book a welcome addition to the other paranormal erotic romances that grace my shelves

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope Saskia Walker will treat us to more stories set in this world. My first taste of Saskia Walker's writing has definitely made me want to read more, especially her sexy contemporary work.

Quote:
They were like two tomcats stalking one another. It made here want to roll on the ground and expose her femininity to them to find out which one would win in a squall.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Back Cover:
“No one touches my woman. She bears my mark. I claim her.”
Dangerous warrior Ivar Gunnarson is a man of deeds, not words. With little time for the ideals of love, Ivar seizes what he wants – and Princess Thyre will not become the exception to his rule!
Mysterious and enchanting, Thyre rouses Ivar’s desire the moment he lays eyes on her. With Viking factions engaged in a bloody feud, Thyre is yet another captive this hardened warrior conquers – but to be king of Thyre’s heart will entail a battle he has never engaged in before…

Thyre is her stepfather's advisor and the driving force behind her his estate, but secretly she dreams of a man to love who loves her back for herself, not her worth. The fragile peace between the Ranriken and the Viken creates a situation they try to keep far away from, but because her stepfather, Ragnfast the Steadfast, owns a bay that is coveted by both parties, it's difficult. Especially when a Viken ship, led by the Viken jaarl Ivar Gunnarson, comes to shore for repairs after a sea battle with a Ranriken jaarl.
Ivar is immediately fascinated by Thyre and sets out with the intention of spending just one night with her. A ruse to deceive Ragnfast and Ivar, in which Thyre takes her half-sister’s place, turns into a night of passion after which Ivar soon discovers what Thyre did and plans retribution. He claims her as his concubine and takes her with him to punish her for the deception. Disclosure on her parentage, however, leads to a somewhat forced marriage but before they can work out their complicated relationship, an outside threat appears and saving Thyre's loved one becomes their first priority.

Thyre is dutiful, responsible and loyal. She is also resourceful, quick-witted and an instinctive take-charge kind of woman. Secretly she longs for adventure and to break free from the confines of her life. Though she's intelligent and resourceful her actions sometimes get Thyre in more trouble than she bargains for but luckily for her, things in the end all work out in her favor. I found it remarkable how at first, Thyre doesn't see that everything she dreams of in a man, is right in front of her in the form of Ivar. Ivar surprises Thyre by showing her he is not all warrior with muscles and prowess but he has brains and can be sensitive too. And he is such a sweet talker too.

Quote Ivar and Thyre:
"You are all night-time promise and daytime fierceness.”
“Something to be admired?”
“To me it makes you interesting, a puzzle. I am finding that I quite enjoy puzzles."

Thyre may seem content but deep down she's not. Ivar puts this nicely into words.

Quote Ivar:
You're not living, you are only existing.

Ivar sees through the smoke screen Thyre puts up to protect her inner feelings and dreams. Ivar has several contradicting sides to him. A tender, caring, sensitive side opposed his rude, impatient, harsh side. He is confident but at the same time also very suspicious of people. He doesn't trust easily.

Both Thyre and Ivar are proud, headstrong, and full of loyalty and a sense of duty. Thyre goes from doting daughter who's running things behind the scenes, to a passionate yet a little deceitful concubine, to reluctant wife. Ivar develops from the warrior out for the spoils with no need for a significant other to a man who cares deeply enough to protect Thyre at all costs. Every stage is written excellently and believably. I admired not only Thyre's stubbornness and perseverance, but also Ivar's ability to keep a cool head because Thyre really tried his patience on a couple of occasions.

The cast of secondary characters was extensive but necessary. Although some were more remarkable than others, all of them contributed to the plot in one way or another. The more memorable for me were Dagmar, Thyre's sister, who is a bit of a drama queen, especially in the beginning, but she did grow on me further along in the book. Then there was Sigmund Sigmundson who is Ivar's nemesis and one of the villains in the story. I truly loathed him for being a treacherous coward. He was not the only villain though but to reveal the other would be too much of a spoiler so I'll let readers discover that story line themselves. Asa, Queen of the Viken was hard for me to pinpoint. I thought her vicious, resentful and conniving but she also did some things that made her a little bit redeemable. Reading the interactions of Ivar and Thyre with some of Thyre's friends (Haakon, Annis, Vikar and Sela) made me curious for the books of those couples as I suspect they are the main couples featured in Michelle Styles' other books in the Viken series. I would love to read more about how their love stories came to be. Finally there were Ivar's nephew and sister, Asger and Astrid, who were very likeable and enjoyable.

There was one small thing that bothered me in this story. Thyre's mother died 8 years before the start of this story, when Thyre was 8 years old. This puts Thyre at 16 during the events in this book and even though I know customs and circumstances were very different in medieval times I did have some trouble believing a 16 year old would have the maturity Thyre has and the ability to go through the things she goes through in this book.

It took me a while to get into the book because of this discrepancy (Thyre's age/demeanor) and because of the Viking terms that were unknown to me in the beginning. I do think reading the previous books in this series would have been helpful and preferable over starting with this installment without some background. Still this did not impede the overall feeling of a great read I had when I turned the last page of the book. I didn't read the other books in this series but now, after reading THE VIKING'S CAPTIVE PRINCESS, I really want to so I can read the back stories of some secondary characters that I liked. So I will most surely be looking for the connected books.

The last time I read a historical romance in a Viking setting must have been ages ago and was in Dutch translation because I've only been reading English for a few years. With reading THE VIKING'S CAPTIVE PRINCESS my appetite definitely has been whetted for more. It was a story of seduction, duty, family-intrigue, secrets, politics, trust and passion, with a great plot that was revealed gradually, with strong characters that held my attention firmly, with the right amount of battle and action and with a courtship brimmed with adversity that made the HEA that more welcome and appreciated.
Though this book was a category romance of less than 300 pages, it totally didn’t have that feel, it was well rounded, well crafted and complete. Hence, praise to Michelle Styles for the delivery of another entertaining, solid Viking story and giving this historical romance lover an escape in the form of a few pleasurable reading hours.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10
(ROOB-rating: 4 stars)

Back Cover:
CAPTURED AND MARRIED BY THE PRINCE!
Normally Prince Nico Cavelli would never waste his time visiting the prison cell of a tourist. Except this particular alleged criminal has stolen something very personal to him—his son, heir to the Montebianco throne!

Lily Morgan always knew it was a mistake coming to the Mediterranean kingdom, but she’d had no choice. First she was thrown into jail for a crime she didn’t commit…now she’s been bailed out by the prince—though in return she must become his royal wife!

I was thrilled when I won this ARC in a giveaway at the author's blog. As I just started reading from the Harlequin Presents line a short while ago, I was eager to read this one too and it didn't disappoint at all. I was planning to review it before the holidays so I could put it up on the blog around January 1st (release date) but lack of time prevented me from doing so now, about a week after release I'm finally sitting down to write my review.

CAVELLI'S LOST HEIR starts off smack dab in the middle of things. Lily Morgan is arrested and thrown in jail in the small kingdom of Montebianco, accused of trafficking priceless antiquities. Nico Cavelli, Crown Prince of Montebianco, finds out he fathered a child two years ago, in a one night stand with Lily and now has some decisions to make. From the moment the book starts a lot happens. Nico rather forcefully coerces Lily into marrying him, whisks her of to Paris for a makeover and shopping trip so she'll look the part of the Crown Princess, they marry and of course there are also problems looming, both from within their relationship and from external elements.

Nico is a true prince. He seems harsh and distrusting, he is arrogant and elegant yet caring and devoted too. He is tired of his outward playboy, uncaring image but maintains it out of guilt and a sense of duty. Lily is feisty, independent and determined. She doesn't let people walk over her and Nico has a hard time winning her over after some of his less courteous actions. I loved that about Lily and Nico. Though they both make some wrong assumptions they were strong enough characters to admit their faults and mistakes and move on from that.

Within the first 20 pages the conflict is set up and you know where things are heading. Assumptions are made to and fro by both Lily and Nico, creating the conflicted situation that needs resolution. I liked the second part of this book more than the first because more things started to happen and Lily and Nico started opening up to each other. The sex scenes were surprisingly more sexy and steamy than I expected them to be in a Harlequin Presents. I read a few HPs before this one and those I read weren't this explicit. I was pleasantly surprised by it and it also immediately prompted me to go and buy Ms. Harris' other and debut Harlequin Presents title, SPANISH MAGNATE, RED-HOT REVENGE.

Despite the story being a little predictable and slow-paced at in the beginning, I loved this book. I like Lynn Raye Harris' writing style a lot and her love scenes are sensual and scorching hot. Her writing is very agreeable and fluent. I liked the characters of Lily and Nico and the ending was emotional and sweet but not too much, just the way I like 'em.

CAVELLI'S LOST HEIR is the perfect book to escape the harsh reality of everyday life and get lost in a few pleasurable reading hours, dreaming of being whisked away by a dark, tall and handsome prince. If you have an ounce of romance inside you and you're looking for a quick and satisfying read, this is one you shouldn't miss.

Quote:
He didn't try to touch her again, but his mouth was still crooked in that knowing grin. His voice a sensual purr. "Run, Lily. Run far and fast before you find yourself sprawled naked on my bed. Because if we begin this, I will not stop until it's finished."

Rating: 7.7 out of 10

Release date: December 1, 2009

Synopsis:
They might call her a force of nature, but becoming a national NASCAR driver took guts and hard work. And Shelly Green's race is only beginning. She needs a sponsor—someone who believes in her. But stylish, sophisticated Damon Tieri seems an unlikely choice. The handsome Ivy League banker lives in a world far different from hers….

Damon knows how badly Shelly needs this high-profile sponsorship. He admires her fighting spirit and her tempting blend of sweet and sexy. Yet putting his money behind her is the easy part. What will it take to get the driven competitor to trust in him? To give him the chance to finish first—with her?

Even though I have read a few category romances lately I have never written a full review for a category romance before (I plan to write a few mini-reviews on them) but there's a first time for everything and I must say Kristina Cook's FORCE OF NATURE is a perfect book for a first category romance review. Car racing fascinates me and I'm addicted to reading romance novels. This makes the NASCAR backdrop combined with this romance an ideal read!

FORCE OF NATURE is the 11th installment in the multi-author Harlequin NASCAR series: Hidden Legacy. It tells the story of Shelly Green, a female NASCAR driver, driving in the Nationwide Series but aspiring a seat in the Sprint Cup Series. In able to get that seat, she needs a sponsor who will provide funds for a second team car. Pebble Valley Winery owner Steve Clayton and his business partner Damon Tieri are looking for a "face" for the winery and Shelly has been on their radar. Then Shelly decides to take a chance and go directly to Steve Clayton to plead her case and reel in the sponsorship. Instead of Steve, she encounters Damon at the winery and sparks fly from the moment they meet. Unfortunately those sparks complicate the matter of the sponsorship and Damon and Shelly must now find a way to come to terms with their mutual attraction and solve the sponsorship thing without causing speculations.

Damon and Shelly are total opposites both in background and in personality but they have their drive and determination in common. Damon is a successful businessman, he is cautious and oozes quiet charm. Outwardly he seems quite happy with his life but inside he longs to break free from his family's expectations and wishes. He has fallen into a routine and Shelly brings in a fresh wind that sets his world upside down.
Shelly is successful NASCAR driver, she's impulsive, competitive, vivacious, sharp-witted and outspoken. She has a personality that draws people to her like a magnet and had this effect on me as a reader too. Her childhood was far from easy with a runaway dad and an alcoholic mother who wasn't really there for her but she has fought her way to success regardless.

For a relatively short book there was a lot going on and there were quite a few secondary characters. Most of them were likeable characters and even Shelly's mom, who was selfish, annoying and immature and whom I really didn't like for most part of the book, got her act together and earned my sympathy in the end. I loved the team surrounding Shelly and am curious to know more about some of the characters who have their own stories in this series.

FORCE OF NATURE is a lovely, fast-paced read with likeable, excellently fleshed out characters and a plot that was very well written considering the limited page count. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was perfect for a few hours of reading. I read it in almost one sitting because I really liked Shelly and Damon and couldn't tear myself away from their story. It was so fast-paced I just flew through the pages and before I knew it I was at the end. It was an ending exactly how I like them: really sweet and a little bit emotional. The writing is fluent, crisp and snappy. And even though there are no real explicit steamy scenes I can't say I missed them. The characters, the instant attraction and the developing feelings between them satisfied my love for romance and I am definitely ready for more of Ms. Cook's contemporary writing.

If you love NASCAR and you love romance, with FORCE OF NATURE Kristina Cook gives you a book that will fit perfectly into your reading needs!

Rating: 8.0 out of 10

This book was released on April 7th and I reviewed it for REALMS ON OUR BOOKSHELVES

Back Cover Copy:
His unexpected bride…

Wealthy landowner Simon Clare shuns Northumbrian society. With his son gravely ill, the last thing Simon needs is an interfering woman assuming command of his household and nursing young Robert – no matter how sensuous her figure, or how tempting her luscious lips.

Phoebe Benedict knows what it is to struggle, and finds herself drawn to the badly scarred recluse. Despite his tough exterior, she knows that Simon is a father who yearns for his son to recover – and a man who misses the tender embrace of a woman…






This is the story of Simon Clare and Phoebe Benedict. I met Simon and his son Robert in A QUESTION OF IMPROPRIETY to which this book is a sequel. He was Diana's rude brother who was part of the secondary cast in that book. Diana has since then married and is staying in London. When Robert is gravely ill and consequently getting unruly, Simon sends for Diana, for she is the only one who is able to get through to her nephew.

But instead of Diana it's Phoebe Benedict, Lord Coltonby's (Diana's husband Brett) cousin, who shows up on his doorstep in the middle of a rainstorm. Out of desperation and not a cruel man to send her away in a storm, Simon lets her stay and it turns out she has a good influence on Robert and his recovery. Soon Simon decides she is good for his son and his household so he offers her a marriage of convenience. An offer Phoebe accepts out of despair and because of her growing feelings for this gruff man and his son.

Simon is sort of an unsociable recluse with a temper. He's rude and direct but he definitely has a softer side too. Especially when he opens up to Phoebe and lets her into his heart. His love for his son Robert and his sister Diana are also proof the fact that he is not totally devoid of compassion.

Phoebe is spirited, tenacious and has a big heart. She hasn't had an easy life but despite the adversities she has brightness and life in her that is hard to ignore or put aside. This is something Simon soon discovers.

Simon and Phoebe both bring their own personal demons into their marriage of convenience and both of them want it for different reasons. Simon wants stability for his son and has trouble reconciling his budding feelings for Phoebe with the fact that she is a single woman living under his roof. Phoebe wants to get away from her stepfamily that demands a lot of her and give her nothing but grief in return. She too is starting to feel Simon is more to her than the father of a sick boy she's taking care of. Inevitably the ultimate happy outcome has one and the same cause: love.

I loved the story between Simon and Phoebe. I could have gone on reading after the epilogue if possible. They, Robert and the relationship between them all captured me from the start. Simon and Phoebe complement each other perfectly. Their respective strong qualities neutralize the weak qualities in each other.

The story revolves around the developing relationship between Phoebe and Simon, Robert’s illness, Simon’s past and Phoebe’s family matters. Fluently written, with dilemmas that are easy to relate to and a thoroughly set up historical setting, I kept turning the pages until I reached the last page. This book brings the reader what it promises: a captivating historical tale of two people falling in love contrary to their initial intention of combining the practical with the pleasurable.

I thoroughly enjoyed how Michelle Styles brought the time period to life. I even learned a bit about building engines, but it was interlaced with the rest of the story in such a manner that it never took over the story. The characters and the romance felt real to me. Together with her knack for historical accuracy and the way she works historical facts and details into the book, this was another solid regency romance that will entice Regency romance lovers. The storyline depicts the lifestyle during this particular time period.

Michelle Styles writes Regency romance as it is meant to be: moving, fitting the time-period in historical details, plotlines and emotional conflict. I was enthralled by her writing style that reads easily but is far from boring. A style that's supported by a solid historical background sending you back to the time she writes about and her descriptions are complementary rather than disrupting and further adding to the genuine sympathy provoked by the characters and their story.

Michelle Styles grabs the reader's heart with her portrait of a wonderful couple. Simon’s gruffness is soon changed by Phoebe’s caring personality and in my eyes they were a perfect fit. Although it isn’t a gripping romance full of passion, as their love grows it allows for depth and development of both Simon and Phoebe. She gave me a beautiful portrayal of true romance and a marriage in which a man learns to trust again and leave the past behind.

When you pick up a Michelle Styles book you know you're in for historical quality on a consistent and high level.

This book was released on November 8th and I reviewed it for REALMS ON OUR BOOKSHELVES



Back Cover:
Diana Clare has had enough of London – the balls, the rakes you can never trust… Now, having returned home in disgrace, she is trying to forget what drove her from the ton.

But rake and gambler Brett Farnham, Earl of Coltonby, seems intent on making Diana remember exactly what it was like to be whirled around the ballroom and seduced by the glint in your partner’s eye...
But Brett has ‘mistress’ rather than ‘marriage’ in mind, and Diana is not sure her reputation can stand up to another scandal...

After a disastrous engagement and the death of her fiancé, Diana Clare leaves London to settle in Northumberland with her brother. She has learned her lesson about men who are only after her money and decides to live according to her rules of propriety. She is determined to behave and dress like a spinster so she won't attract rakes to ruin her. But a chance meeting with Brett Farnham, Lord Coltonby, endangers her determination since he represents a temptation able to make her forsake her own rules.

Lovely is the first word that came to mind after finishing Michelle Styles' A QUESTION OF IMPROPRIETY. With it I reconnected with the genuine Regency historical romance, complete with the society gossips, the secretive seduction and wooing, the misinterpreted intentions and the budding feelings of love.

At first I almost started to dislike Brett with his slick and manipulating ways and his intention of using Diana to get what he wanted from her brother. But just in time Michelle Styles made him realize his feelings for Diana, turning him into a romantic hero worth liking and admiring. He developed from a man with a rake's reputation into a man with honorable intentions not allowing Diana to have anything but genuine passion and love.

While reading the first chapters you know there is more to Diana than is being disclosed and throughout the book I was curious as to what her secrets were and when she would let down her guard and give in to Brett's persistent but patient seduction. She grew within the story from a rigid young woman, living by rules of propriety she laid upon herself, to a woman who realizes she can enjoy life and love without being afraid of impropriety.

Because the book is centered on Brett and Diana and their story, most of the supporting characters don't play big parts in it. The more important ones are Simon, Diana's brother, and his son. They are crucial in the character-development of both Brett and Diana. The other secondary characters are neighbors and servants who mainly stay in the background, providing occasional insight mainly into Diana’s character.

Michelle Styles has an amazingly complaisant writing style that enables you to really get to know the characters and sympathize with them.
Both Diana and Brett are characters who evolve during the story when little by little their personalities and backgrounds are revealed.
From the start the dialogues between Diana and Brett are sharp, quick-witted and filled with underlying attraction. Since the story really concentrates on their feelings and the developing relationship there were a lot of these wonderful dialogues.

I used to enjoy historical romances like these but have been sidetracked by intricate and intense historical, contemporary and paranormal romances. Reading this book I remembered what true Regency is all about and I enjoyed it immensely. With Michelle Styles’ keen eye for historical details like clothing and food and her knowledge of subjects typical to the time-period, like horses and engines, she took me on a journey back in time to the 19th century.

The book is character-driven rather than action-driven and because of Michelle Styles' talent to portray realistic and three-dimensional characters the romance is so touching and well-written that I didn't miss the action or intensity I usually look for in my reads.
I will most definitely be looking out for Simon's story, coming next year. I'm curious to know what is behind his brooding exterior and his attitude towards his son.

For me this book was refreshingly original with its gradual build-up of romance and characters. It can be classified under the classical regency that any historical romance lover will enjoy and appreciate.