The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer

The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet




One of Heyer's funniest Regency romances, and one of readers' favorites.

The Talisman Ring is one of Heyer's funniest and fastest-paced romantic comedies, telling the story of a fugitive heir, a tempestuous Frenchwoman, and the two sensible people who try to keep them out of trouble.

"... A long-lost family heirloom, a young heir falsely accused of murder, a band of smugglers, two utterly delightful Heyer heroines, a taciturn, but highly resourceful older gentleman - all play their parts in a tale funny enough to have you laughing aloud."

Publishers Weekly



This book is hilarious!!! I absolutely loved it!

The Importance of Almack's by Denise Patrick

The Importance of Almack's by Denise Patrick

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet

Banished and disowned for saving a stranger's life. In Regency England, lineage and vouchers to Almack's are everything, but Pamela Clarkdale has neither. After her father casts her out, she considers herself fortunate to have obtained a position as a companion to an elderly widow. Kitt Covington has sworn off Almack's and marriage. Why attend one when he has no interest in the other? Guilt, however, is a powerful motivator. Knowing he caused Pamela to be thrown out of her home, he proposes a sham betrothal between them to ease his conscience. Kitt's offer is tempting and Pamela agrees, with the caveat that the betrothal will disappear at the end of the season. But not only is Pamela refused vouchers to Almack's, her family is scheming to destroy her to protect a secret she doesn't realize she knows. When the twenty-year-old web of lies and deceit begins to unravel, will Pamela and Kitt discover that Almack's isn't really that important after all?



This was a very good book! I loved both the H/H and the little twists and turns were very believable and truly added to the story! The best thing about this book is that it is TOTALLY clean!!! Thank you Ms. Patrick!

Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs

Wolfsbane (Aralorn, #2)(Sianim, #4) by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


Shape shifting mercenary Aralorn leads a dangerous existence. Now she must return home for her noble father, the Lyon of Lambshold, has passed away. But when Aralorn and her companion Wolf arrive, they find he's not dead, but ensorcelled by the ae'Magi, using him as a conduit to destroy Aralorn and Wolf. She must overcome this mysterious mist or fall to the blackest of magic.


Love Briggs!


       This continues the story of Aralorn the mercenary and her Wolf. This is not your typical romance by any means. The romance is very much side story.

      When Aralorn travels to Lambshold for a funeral she is alone and upset with the death of her father. Without giving anything away, she is prepared to say her goodbyes when an unexpected "miracle" is brought to her attention.

       Wolfsbane is action packed. It is a little more violent then I prefer to go but in no way explicit just revealed afterward. I was able to get over the violence for the fact that it was a very important part of the story and didn't last very long. I recommend this book to Brigg's lovers and fans of The Host by Stephenie Meyers.

Masques by Patricia Briggs

Masques (Aralorne, #1)  by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Minimal Kissing



Said to be heavily rewritten from the original story of 1993.

After an upbringing of proper behavior and oppressive expectations, Aralorn fled her noble birthright for a life of adventure as a mercenary spy.Her latest mission involves spying on the increasingly powerful sorcerer Geoffrey ae'Magi.But in a war against an enemy armed with the powers of illusion, how do you know who the true enemy is-or where he will strike next?



I truly enjoyed this book. It was SUPER creative and left me happy and feeling like I had just watched a new movie! I am continually impressed with Ms. Briggs writing and can almost promise to continue to be a long time follower. If you enjoy other Briggs' book then this one is NO EXCEPTION!!

*Some War Type Violence

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .



Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.



When I saw all the great ratings on this books I went online right away and bought the audible version. I listened to this book in a day and while I thought it was a very good story I was hoping for so much more. ( keep telling myself not to read series that are not already finished being written but I never stay with my own rule.) Honestly I read this book in hopes of finding the next "Twilight"! There really is no comparison with the two. The romance that was needed to draw you in was really skipped over. Sadly, we started off with one hero and then half way through the book the original hero goes away and a new hero moves in. Then at the end of the book the original hero return but there was really no connection with him to make the reader care. When i finished Unearthly I did not sigh with satisfaction but disappointment. SO MUCH was left open!

I would recommend this book but only once the series is complete to prevent the frustration of waiting. I will probably have to reread the book since the next book does not come out until 2012.

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs

Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, #2)  by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff

Mated to werewolf Charles Cornick, the son -and enforcer -of the leader of the North American werewolves, Anna Latham now knows how dangerous being a werewolf is, especially when a werewolf opposes Charles and his father is struck down. Charles's reputation makes him the prime suspect, and the penalty for the crime is execution. Now Anna and Charles must combine their talents to hunt down the real killer -or Charles will take the fall.

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega, #1) by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


Now Briggs begins an extraordinary new series set in Mercy Thompson's world but with rules of its own.

INTRODUCING THE ALPHA AND OMEGA NOVELS...

Anna never knew werewolves existed until the night she survived a violent attack and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But Anna is that rarest kind of werewolf; an Omega. And one of the most powerful werewolves in the country will recognize her value as a pack member;and as his mate.



     Great Series!! I enjoyed this book! I love that it is was in two person perspective because I enjoy "knowing" what the H/H are thinking about each other! This is something I wished the Mercy Thompson books had in them. Briggs is one of my new authors that I will follow all of her series! Highly recommended.

No Cure for the Broken Hearted by Kenneth Rosenberg

No Cure for the Broken Hearted by Kenneth Rosenberg

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet


Katherine Spencer is an up-and-coming architect in New York City. Her professional life is on the fast-track. Her personal life is a shambles. Katherine compares every man she ever meets to Nick Bancroft, the billionaire’s son who broke her heart one summer long ago. Now, twelve years later he’s suddenly reappeared, asking her to design a house at the cove where they shared their first kiss. Is he looking for an architect, or something more? And should she forgive him?



This story takes you on a journey through Katherine's life from 16 years old to 28 years old. There is obviously a gap in which she finishes school and college and make a career for herself. She has know Nick for a brief span in those 28 years but the brief period has molded her life choices... and his!


I started this book on a late Sunday evening and that was a HUGE mistake. I HAD to finish and know how the story would end so I ended up reading until 4AM. The writing flowed like a movie in your head and you could actually imagine the conversations like you were there. The biggest plus side to this story was that it is completely clean!(and not lacking)


My only upset was the ending

.**(See Below)** While I understand that all books must end I felt like we had come along on the journey of Katherine and Nick to have it pan out as it did and then end. I would have liked to see a little more Nick and Katherine time together. Building their "grown-up" relationship. ALL in all I would recommend this book to EVERYONE! Great Love Story.


****UPDATE**** Since my original review above the author has revised the ending chapter to give the reader more closure. Thank you Mr. Rosenberg! A MUST READ>>>!!

By Heart and Compass by Danielle Thorne

By Heart and Compass by Danielle Thorne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet


When Lacey Whitman buys a restored Victorian home, she never dreams discovering an antique diary will lead her back to sea and into the arms of the dive bum she’d rather forget. Her habit of living in the past comes to a screeching halt as diver Max Bertrand and the diary of his ancestor take Lacey on the quest of a lifetime: To discover and raise the privateer ship, Specter, and bring the treasure and legacy of a true hero home again. But will finding it cost her heart?



This was a sweet book and completely clean. The beginning was a bit slow and I found myself getting irritated with Lacey's thought process and while I knew that there needed to be some meat to the H/H attraction it was unrealistic that Lacey would have held such strong feelings for someone that blew her off on her first meeting (after seeing him once). The rest of the story was great and I got over any irritation I felt at the beginning. I would recommend this book to everyone.

Take a Walk With Me by Marcia Lynn McClure

Take a Walk With Me by Marcia Lynn McClure

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet


“Grandma?” Cozy called as she closed the front door behind her. She inhaled a deep breath—bathing in the warm, inviting scent of banana nut bread baking in the oven. “Grandma? Are you in here?”

“Cozy!” her grandma called in a loud whisper. “I’m in the kitchen. Hurry!”

Cozy frowned—her heart leapt as worry consumed her for a moment. Yet, as she hurried to the kitchen to find her grandma kneeling at the window that faced the new neighbors yard, and peering out with a pair of binoculars, she exhaled a sigh of relief.

“Grandma! You’re still spying on him?” she giggled.

“Get down! They’ll see us! Get down!” Dottie ordered in a whisper, waving one hand in a gesture that Cozy should duck.

Giggling with amusement at her grandma’s latest antics, Cozy dropped to her hands and knees and crawled toward the window.

“Who’ll see us?” she asked.

“Here,” Dottie whispered, pausing only long enough to reach for a second set of binoculars sitting on the nearby counter. “These are for you.” She smiled at Cozy—winked as a grin of mischief spread over her face. “And now…may I present the entertainment for this evening…Mr. Buckly hunk of burning love Bryant…and company.”





WOW!!! This book had some HOT kisses in it! Some of the BEST kisses I have read in a LONG time!



This is a great book!! I absolutely LOVED JESSE and COZY! It makes me happy to read books where the characters have real morals and actually live by them.

The Season by Sarah MacLean

The Season by Sarah MacLean

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet


Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued — in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had to learn to hold her own. Not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet.



When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex's heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband? Romance abounds as this year's season begins!



WOW!! This was an excellent book! I read it in one day and am prying it out of my hands to put it on my shelf next to the Jane Austen collection! I loved this book! Thank you Sarah for making such a sweet romance to dream in for a day, I cannot wait for the next books.

The Mischief of the Mistletoe: A Pink Carnation Christmas by Lauren Willig

The Mischief of the Mistletoe: A Pink Carnation Christmas by Lauren Willig

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating:Fluff


Arabella Dempsey’s dear friend Jane Austen warned her against teaching. But Miss Climpson’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies seems the perfect place for Arabella to claim her independence while keeping an eye on her younger sisters nearby. Just before Christmas, she accepts a position at the quiet girls’ school in Bath, expecting to face nothing more exciting than conducting the annual Christmas recital. She hardly imagines coming face to face with French aristocrats and international spies…



Reginald “Turnip” Fitzhugh—often mistaken for the elusive spy known as the Pink Carnation—has blundered into danger before. But when he blunders into Miss Arabella Dempsey, it never occurs to him that she might be trouble. When Turnip and Arabella stumble upon a beautifully wrapped Christmas pudding with a cryptic message written in French, “Meet me at Farley Castle”, the unlikely vehicle for intrigue launches the pair on a Yuletide adventure that ranges from the Austens’ modest drawing room to the awe-inspiring estate of the Dukes of Dovedale, where the Dowager Duchess is hosting the most anticipated event of the year: an elaborate 12-day Christmas celebration. Will they find poinsettias or peril, dancing or danger? And is it possible that the fate of the British Empire rests in Arabella and Turnip’s hands, in the form of a festive Christmas pudding?



My favorite in the series!!!! Loved it! I hope that Ms. Willig will stay with this new formula of writing.

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Hot


A New York Times extended list bestseller in hardcover-the sensational sixth book in the national bestselling Pink Carnation series.

Whisked away to nineteenth-century India, Penelope Deveraux plunges into the court intrigues of the Nizam of Hyderabad, where no one is quite what they seem. New to this strange and exotic country- where a dangerous spy called the Marigold leaves venomous cobras as his calling card-she can trust only one man: Captain Alex Reid.

With danger looming from local warlords, treacherous court officials, and French spies, Alex and Penelope may be all that stand in the way of a plot designed to rock the very foundations of the British Empire...



This is my least favorite in the series but still an interesting book! I never like Penelope so an entire book about her is hard to take... I didn't like the adultery and felt like to ending was kind of tied of quickly and weak.

The Temptation of the Night Jasmine by Lauren Willig

The Temptation of the Night Jasmine by Lauren Willig

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated-Hot


After years abroad, Robert, Duke of Dovedale, has returned to England to avenge the murder of his mentor. To uncover the murderer's identity, he must infiltrate the infamous, secret Hellfire Club. But the Duke has no idea that an even more difficult challenge awaits him-in a mistaken, romantic-minded young lady.



Charlotte Lansdowne wistfully remembers the Robert of her childhood as a valiant hero among men. Too aware of his own flaws, Robert tries to dissuade Charlotte from her delusions, even as he finds himself drawn to her. When Charlotte takes up a bit of espionage-investigating a plot to kidnap the King-Robert soon realizes that she is more than the perfect partner in crime.



Caught in a dangerous game full of deadly spies and secret rites, Robert and Charlotte must work together to reveal the villain...and confront their true love.



Once again Ms. Willig is going for a darker plot. This is my least favorite in the series. Charlotte and Dovedale had terrible communication skills and that was quite frustrating. Most of the previous books have had the heroine being equally quick witted and self sufficient but not in this books. Disappointing but love still prevailed and we ended happy.

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


Determined to secure another London season without assistance from her new brother-in-law, Mary Alsworthy accepts a secret assignment from Lord Vaughn on behalf of the Pink Carnation. She must infiltrate the ranks of the dreaded French spy, the Black Tulip, before he and his master can stage their planned invasion of England. Every spy has a weakness and for the Black Tulip that weakness is beautiful black-haired women—his “petals” of the Tulip. A natural at the art of seduction, Mary easily catches the attention of the French spy, but Lord Vaughn never anticipated that his own heart would be caught as well. Fighting their growing attraction, impediments from their past, and, of course, the French, Mary and Vaughn find themselves lost in a treacherous garden of lies.



And as our modern-day heroine, Eloise Kelly, digs deeper into England's Napoleonic-era espionage, she becomes even more entwined with Colin Selwick, the descendant of her spy subjects.



Our hero, Lord Vaughn, was darker and more sinister than previous hero's in Willig's book. While this was not my favorite in the series I still enjoyed it and will continue to read the series.

The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig

The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


The Barnes & Noble Review

Lauren Willig follows up her two earlier engaging romances with a third rollicking historical about British spies and romance in the early 19th century, set against the background of a possible Irish uprising. It stars the trustworthy Lord Geoffrey Pinchingdale, determined to woo the beauteous Mary Alsworthy, and her younger sister, Letty, who is equally determined to break up an elopement that would mar the family's good name. As a result, Geoff and Letty wind up in the same carriage at midnight, which means, in 1803, that they are very much compromised -- and forced to marry immediately. Nonplussed by marrying the wrong sister, Geoff sets off to Ireland on a mysterious voyage; secretly, he is a spy, high up in the League of the Purple Gentian. Letty decides to track him down, falling right in the middle of his secret life, with wonderful comic and romantic results. Once again, this is set as a story-within-a-story, with a contemporary romance slowly blossoming between historian Eloise Kelly and Colin Selwick, whose family papers star in The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. Ginger Curwen



This one had some cute humor in it and only one sex scene. Letti had a cute way about her and Geoff balanced her out.

The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig

The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


The Pink Carnation, history's most elusive spy and England's only hope for preventing a Napoleonic invasion, returns in Lauren Willig's dazzling imaginative new historical romance. The Masque of the Black Tulip opens with the murder of a courier from the London War Office, his confidential dispatch for the Pink Carnation stolen. Meanwhile, the Black Tulip, France's deadliest spy, is in England with instructions to track down and kill the Pink Carnation. Only Henrietta Uppington and Miles Dorrington know where the Pink Carnation is stationed. Using a secret code book, Henrietta has deciphered a message detailing the threat of the Black Tulip. Meanwhile, the War Office has enlisted Miles to track down the notorious French spy before he (or she) can finish the deadly mission. But what Henrietta and Miles don't know is that while they are trying to find the Black Tulip (and possibly falling in love), the Black Tulip is watching them.

The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig

The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated - Hot


"Pride and Prejudice lives on" (USA Today) in Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series, which has been hailed for its addictive blend of history, romance, and adventure. In The Orchid Affair, Willig introduces her strongest heroine yet. Laura Grey, a veteran governess, joins the Selwick Spy School expecting to find elaborate disguises and thrilling exploits in service to the spy known as the Pink Carnation. She hardly expects her first assignment to be serving as governess for the children of Andre Jaouen, right-hand man to Bonaparte's minister of police. Jaouen and his arch rival, Gaston Delaroche, are investigating a suspected Royalist plot to unseat Bonaparte, and Laura's mission is to report any suspicious findings.



At first the job is as lively as Latin textbooks and knitting, but Laura begins to notice strange behavior from Jaouen-secret meetings and odd comings and goings. As Laura edges herself closer to her employer, she makes a shocking discovery and is surprised to learn that she has far more in common with Jaouen than she originally thought...



As their plots begin to unravel, Laura and Jaouen are forced on the run with the children, and with the help of the Pink Carnation they escape to the countryside, traveling as husband and wife. But Delaroche will stop at nothing to take down his nemesis. With his men hot on their trail, can Laura and Jaouen seal the fate of Europe before it's too late?





While I truly enjoyed this book I was very disappointed by the choice Andre and Laura made to consummate their relationship without being married or intending to be. I can reason it out in my mind why an author takes to step to put a love scene when the couple is married but this would have been so much better had the H/h had all the sexual tension and kissing instead of leaping in bed with each other. While the love scene was very mild it mentioned the "N" word and it made me cringe!!!!!! Had there been only kissing or a marriage I would have given this book a 4-5 star. My favorite is still the previous "The Mischief of the Mistletoe: A Pink Carnation Christmas"

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Hot


"This genre-bending read a dash of chick-lit with a historical twist has it all: romance, mystery, and adventure." Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries

Deciding that true romantic heroes are a thing of the past, Eloise Kelly, an intelligent American who always manages to wear her Jimmy Choo suede boots on the day it rains, leaves Harvard's Widener Library bound for England to finish her dissertation on the dashing pair of spies the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. What she discovers is something the finest historians have missed: a secret history that begins with a letter dated 1803. Eloise has found the secret history of the Pink Carnation the most elusive spy of all time, the spy who single-handedly saved England from Napoleon's invasion.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, a wildly imaginative and highly adventurous debut, opens with the story of a modern-day heroine but soon becomes a book within a book. Eloise Kelly settles in to read the secret history hoping to unmask the Pink Carnation's identity, but before she can make this discovery, she uncovers a passionate romance within the pages of the secret history that almost threw off the course of world events. How did the Pink Carnation save England? What became of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian? And will Eloise Kelly find a hero of her own?

This was a cute story and I laughed a lot while reading it... there were 2 sex scenes that were not explicit but easily skipped. The following books in the series have no sex. I was recently told that new authors are most often required to input sex in order to be published. . . Makes me think differently on reading a second book in a series to give the author a chance.

A Crimson Frost by Marcia Lynn McClure

A Crimson Frost by Marcia Lynn McClure

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff


Beloved of her father, King Dacian, and adored by her people, the Scarlet Princess Monet endeavored to serve her kingdom well-for the people of the Kingdom of Karvana were good, and worthy of service. Long Monet had known that even her marriage would serve her people. Her husband would be chosen for her-for this was the way of royal existence.

Still, as any woman does-peasant or princess-Monet dreamt of owning true love-of owning choice in love. Thus, each time the raven-haired, sapphire-eyed, Crimson Knight of Karvana rode near-Monet knew regret-for in secret, she loved him-and she could not choose him.

As an arrogant king from another kingdom began to wage war against Karvana, Karvana's king, knights and soldiers answered the challenge. The Princess Monet would also know battle. As the Crimson Knight battled with armor and blade-so the Scarlet Princess would battle in sacrifice and with secrets held. Thus, when the charge was given to preserve the heart of Karvana-Monet endeavored to serve her kingdom and forget her secreted love. Yet, love is not so easily forgotten.



WOW!!! I don't know what to say... I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! LOVE IT!If there were more stars it would have them.

The best McClure book I have read so far and I would put it right up there with Twilight as my favorites!!! True Love, Clean Passion, LOTS OF KISSING, Knights, Princesses.... LOVE IT!!!!

Queen In Exile by Donna Hatch

Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff


Rumors of war hang over Princess Jeniah's peaceful country of Arden, a land that shuns both magic and warfare. Following a lifelong dream, Jeniah forms a telepathic bond with a revered creature called a chayim, who is prophesied to save her kingdom. But when a Darborian knight comes upon Jeniah with her chayim, he sees only a vicious monster about to devour a maiden, and he slays the beast.

Devastated by the loss of her chayim, and fearing that her own magic is evil, Jeniah doubts her destiny. When an enemy invades Arden City, they slaughter the people, storm the castle, and execute the entire royal family except the princess. Rescued by the knight who slew her chayim, Jeniah is now heir to the throne of Arden and the only hope for freeing her people from tyranny.

On the run and hunted by enemy soldiers, Jeniah must place her life and the fate of her kingdom in the hands of this trained killer. Torn between embracing her destiny as queen of Arden, and her love for a mere knight, she must ultimately rely on her magic to save herself and her people from death and tyranny.

A wonderful story!!! Read it in one day because I could not put it down... Jeniah and Kai were perfect!!! I absolutely loved Kai! He is a knight from another kingdom and sworn to protect her and her kingdom. She is a tender princess with a great sense of duty. Together they make an unlikely pair and the story unfolds beautifully.

The Stranger She Married by Donna Hatch

The Stranger She Married by Donna Hatch

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff


When her parents and only brother die within weeks of each other, Alicia and her younger sister are left in the hands of an uncle who has brought them all to financial and social ruin. Desperate to save her family from debtor's prison, Alicia vows to marry the first wealthy man to propose. She meets the dashing Lord Amesbury, and her heart whispers that this is the man she is destined to love, but his tainted past may forever stand in their way. Her choices in potential husbands narrow to either a scarred cripple with the heart of a poet, or a handsome rake with a deadly secret.

Cole Amesbury is tormented by his own ghosts, and believes he is beyond redemption, yet he cannot deny his attraction for the girl whose genuine goodness touches the heart he'd thought long dead. He fears the scars in his soul cut so deeply that he may never be able to offer Alicia a love that is true.

When yet another bizarre mishap threatens her life, Alicia suspects the seemingly unrelated accidents that have plagued her loved ones are actually a killer's attempt to exterminate every member of her family. Despite the threat looming over her, learning to love the stranger she married may pose the greatest danger to her heart.



A very good book!!! Definitely worth reading! The double hero was a different line of story and very enjoyable.

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


When mechanic and shape shifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down. It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit. All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live...



A great book!! I would have to compare these with the Twilight Series because I loved them so. It's like a more adult version but with Fae. At the same time not too adult that there is sex through the whole book... I am truly impressed with Briggs.

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Heated


By day, Mercy is a car mechanic in the sprawling Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, Mercy has often found herself having to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human. This time she may get more than she bargained for.

Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan—and she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from direct reprisal by the werewolf pack (and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha), it won't be Mercy's blood Marsilia is after.

It'll be her friends'.

****Hints at Spoilers****

Once again, an excellent book! I LOVE the walking stick... it's just a very creative object Briggs added and I can't help but enjoy it's presence.

I must admit that I am starting to feel quite worried about Mercy because she keep getting in trouble and it's always when she is cut off from everyone that can help her! It's frustrating that Adam can never truly be her knight in shining armor because he has so many other responsibilities and she is so resourceful.

Mild Language
Some Disturbing Violence

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating:Fluff


When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?

To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life—first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse—seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?

The astonishing, breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.

If you have only seen the movies and liked them even a little, you MUST MUST read the series.



This book was great! It was an easy ready with so many twists! I Love the Twilight series and read them all in a little over a week! I thought Stephenie Meyer wrote clearly and it took little thinking to understand her points!

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff


Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob —- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?





If you have only seen the movies and liked them even a little, you MUST MUST read the series.



The third book in the Twilight Series was bittersweet. Jacob continues to pursue Bella even though she is with Edward. I felt Bella strings him along throughout the book and then finally has to address the issue when her time to pick is upon her.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet


I FELT LIKE I WAS TRAPPED IN ONE OF THOSE TERRIFYING NIGHTMARES…

For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella ever could have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning. . . .

Legions of readers entranced by the New York Times bestseller Twilight are hungry for the continuing story of star-crossed lovers Bella and Edward. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural spin. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.



If you have only seen the movies and liked them even a little, you MUST MUST read the series.



The second book in the Twilight Saga was hard for me to read due to the heart-wrenching breakup at the beginning of the book. This was the beginning of my personal dislike for Jacob because I was already all the way Team Edward. Thankfully Edward returned and I was no longer distraught.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet


Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife—between desire and danger. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.



This book was the start to my adult reading habit! I absolutely LOVED this book. I have read it 4 times and can still say I will read it again. I loved the devotion and sweetness to Edward and Bella's relationship. It goes back to the age old saying "Love Conquers All"

This is a MUST READ!

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff



When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to shape shifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. And she'll have to choose between the two werewolves in her life-whether she wants to or not.



Wow!! This was a rougher book but SO GOOD!!! The flow of the book is very easy to read and the world that Briggs has created is so realistic it makes it hard to remember that it is a fiction book!!! This is the best series I have read in 2010!!

Mild/Harsh Language
Mild Violence

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff



The second installment of Patricia Briggs's paranormal fantasy saga to feature feisty heroine Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson, Blood Bound (sequel to 2006's Moon Called), pits the butt-kicking mechanic/coyote shape-shifter against a foe that is as rare as he is ruthless -- a demon-possessed sorcerer who is also a vampire!

When Mercy agrees to help out friend Stefan (a bloodsucker from the local vampire clan in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State), she has no idea that she is about to inadvertently come face-to-face with an otherworldly creature that epitomizes pure evil. After barely surviving her encounter with sorcerer Cory Littleton, Mercy -- with the help of a small group of supernatural friends -- vows to track down the mysterious Littleton before he can butcher more innocent people. Her mission is twofold: Not only will she stop a mass murderer from killing again but she will also (hopefully) protect the invaluable secrecy of the vampires who live in the Tri-Cities area. But can a shape-shifting mechanic with a thing for Volkswagen cars defeat a monstrosity powered by spirits from the depths of Hell?



I must admit that I am truly impressed with how much I am enjoying this series! Another great book by Briggs. I am SO happy the books have been CLEAN!
Mild/Harsh Language
Some Violence

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff


Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself ... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

A very good book to start of the series!!! Kept my attention the entire time. Would definitely recommend.
**Mild/Harsh Language a few times
Some Violence

Highwayman of Tanglewood by Marcia Lynn McClure

The Highwayman of Tanglewood by Marcia Lynn McClure

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet


Faris gasped as a gloved hand of a sudden covered her mouth from behind Be still. The Highwayman of Tanglewood owns ya now. Faris smiled...as he whispered, Do not struggle. Ill not harm ya, lass Come away with me, sweet Faris, the highwayman whispered. What say ye?

I say, who are you, highwayman? Faris breathed...All romantic thoughts of knights riding to win the fair lady were driven from her mind. A rogues manner was vastly more delightful!

Aye! But that ye should know, sweet Faris, the highwayman whispered.

I know you not, sir, Faris said in a whisper. Surely I would remember such a shape of a man.

"Indeed, would ya, lass? he asked.

"I would, sir." she answered

Tis well ya know who I am, fair Faris, he whispered, kissing her neck again. I am the Highwayman of Tanglewood.

A chambermaid in the house of Tremeshton, Faris Shayhan well knew torment, despair and trepidation. To Faris it seemed the future stretched long and desolate before herbleak and as dark as a lonesome midnight path. Still, the moon oft casts hopeful luminosity to light ones way. So it was that Lady Maranda Rockrimmon cast hope upon Farisset Faris upon a different patha path of happiness, serenity and love.

Faris abandoned the tainted air of Tremeshton in favor of the amethyst sunsets of Loch Loland Castle and her new mistress Lady Rockrimmon. Further, it was on the very night of her emancipation that Faris first met the man of her dreams. The man of every womans dreams. The rogue Highwayman of Tanglewood.

Dressed in black and astride his mighty steed, the brave, heroic and dashing rogue Highwayman of Tanglewood stole Faris heart as easily as he stole her kiss. Yet, the Highwayman of Tanglewood was encircled in mystery mystery as thick and as secretive as time itself. Could Faris truly own the heart of a man so entirely enveloped in twilight shadows and dangerous secrets?



A very good book! At times you would think you knew who the Highwayman was and then she would throw a kink in it. I truly enjoyed this story!

Shackles of Honor by Marcia Lynn McClure

Shackles Of Honor by Marcia Lynn McClure

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff


Cassidy Shea’s life was nothing if not serene. Loving parents and a doting brother provided happiness and innocent hope in dreaming as life’s experience. Yes, life was blissful at her beloved home of Terrill.
Still, for all its beauty and tranquility…ever there was something intangible and evasive lurking in the shadows. And though Cassidy wasted little worry on it…still she sensed its existence, looming as a menacing fate bent on ruin.
And when one day a dark stranger appeared, Cassidy could no longer ignore the ominous whispers of the secrets surrounding her. Mason Carlisle, an angry, unpredictable man materialized…and seemingly with Cassidy's black fate at his heels.
Instantly Cassidy found herself thrust into a world completely unknown to her, wandering in a labyrinth of mystery and concealments. Serenity was vanquished…and with it, her dreams.
Or were all the secrets so guardedly kept from Cassidy...were they indeed the cloth, the very flax from which her dreams were spun? From which eternal bliss would be woven?

The Visions of Ransom Lake by Marcia Lynn McClure

The Visions of Ransom Lake by Marcia Lynn McClure

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff

Youthful beauty, naïve innocence, a romantic imagination thirsting for adventure-an apt description of Vaden Valmont, who would soon find the adventure and mystery she had always longed to experience-in the form of a man. A somber recluse, Ransom Lake descended from his solitary concealment in the mountains, wholly disinterested in people and their trivial affairs. And somehow, young Vaden managed to be ever in his way-either by accident or because of her own unique ability to stumble into a quandary. Yet the enigmatic Ransom Lake would involuntarily become Vaden's unwitting tutor. Through him, she would experience joy and passion the like even Vaden had never imagined. Yes, Vaden Valmont stepped innocently, yet irrevocably, into love with the secretive, seemingly callous man-Ransom Lake. But there were other life's lessons Ransom Lake would inadvertently convey to her as well. The darker side of life-despair, guilt, heartache. Would Ransom Lake be the means of Vaden's dreams come true? Or the cause of her complete desolation?



Very good book! Lots of kissing and sweetness with no fear of anything more! A Definitely recommended read!

The Heavenly Surrender by Marcia Lynn McClure

The Heavenly Surrender by Marcia Lynn McClure

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Fluff


"Dear Mr. McLean, I feel, as you do, that this arrangement will be beneficial and satisfactory for both of us. I agree that we, having committed to follow through with the previously corresponded terms, will legally marry upon my arrival next week. I expect nothing from you, save a place of residence, the required necessities of living, hard work to keep my mind and physical being occupied, and respect. I in turn will assist you in whatever is required to sustain and maintain your land and crops, while providing meals, doing mending, and fulfilling other non-intimate duties commonly performed by a man's legal wife. I will arrive in Blue Springs on the 10:00 a.m. train, April 3rd..." Genieva Bankmans had willfully agreed to the arrangement. She had given her word and she would not dishonor it. Yet when she saw, for the first time, the man whose advertisement she'd answered...she was desperately intimidated. The handsome and powerful Brevan McLean was not what she'd expected-he was not the sort of man she'd reconciled herself to marrying. This man-the stranger whose name Genieve now bore-was strong-willed, quick-tempered and expectant of much from his new wife. Brevan McLean did not deny that he had married her for practical reasons only. He merely wanted any woman whose hard work would provide him assistance with the brutal demands of farm life. Still, Genieva would learn there were far darker things, grave secrets held unspoken by Brevan McLean concerning his family and his land. Genieva Bankmans McLean would find herself in the midst of treachery, violence and villainy-her estranged husband deeply entangled in it.





This was a wonderful book!! I love it! She writes beautifully and I loved each of the characters. It was a PERFECT love story!

Courting Miss Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden

Courting Miss Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet


Harry Windover adores blonde, green-eyed Athena Lancaster, but alas, a penniless man like himself has no hope of winning a young noblewoman's hand. To add insult to injury, Athena's brother-in-law and guardian, the Duke of Kielder, has asked Harry to assist Athena in finding the gentleman of her dreams. But the lovesick Harry is cunning as well: as the weeks pass, he introduces Athena to suitors who are horrifically boring, alarmingly self-absorbed, and utterly ridiculous.



Athena can't comprehend why she is having so little success meeting eliglble and acceptable gentlemen. Indeed, her circle of admirers couldn't be less admirable-nothing like the loyal, gentle friend she's found in Harry. But how long can Harry's scheme be hidden before it is discovered? And what will Athena do when she uncovers Harry's deception? Escape into a charming regency world in this delightfully romantic comedy of manners that will entertain you to the very last word.



The characters in Courting Miss Lancaster were very believable and all interacted with each other in a realistic dialog. The romance was subtle and endearing but while I enjoyed the journey I did question some of the choices the H/H made. All in ALL completely clean and a definitely recommended read.

Born for Thorton's Sake by Marcia Lynn McClure

Born for Thorton's Sake by Marcia Lynn McClure

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet


HE WAS THE ONLY MAN SHE HAD EVER DREAMED OF BELONGING TO. THE ONLY MAN SHE HAD EVER WANTED. Maria Castillo Holt, the only daughter of a valiant Lord and his Spanish beauty. Following the tragic deaths of her parents, Maria would find herself spirited away by conniving kindred in an endurance of neglect and misery. However, rescued at the age of thirteen by Brockton Thorton, the son of her father's devoted friend, Lord Richard Thorton, Maria would at last find blessed reprieve. Further, the heir to Lord Thorton's title, Brockton Thorton became from that day forth, ever the absolute center of Maria's very existence. And as the day of her sixteenth birthday dawned, Maria's dreams of owning her heart's desire, seemed to become a blissful reality. Yet a fiendish plotting intruded, and Maria's hopes of realizing her dreams come true were locked away within dark, impenetrable walls. Would Maria's dreams of life with the handsome and coveted Brockton Thorton die at the hands of a demon strength?









I highly recommend this author to everyone. This was a very sweet historical romance that unfolds in front of the reader to reveal a heart warming and unforgettable HEA Story.

My Very First Marcia Lynn McClure Book!

The Whispered Kiss by Marcia Lynn McClure

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sensuality Rating: Sweet


With the sea at its side, the beautiful township of Bostchelan was home to many-including the lovely Coquette de Bellamont, her three sisters, and beloved father. In Bostchelan, Coquette knew happiness, and as much contentment as a young woman whose heart had been broken years before could know. Thus, Coquette dwelt in gladness until the day her father returned from his travels with an astonishing tale to tell.



Antoine de Bellamont returned from his travels by way of Roanan bearing a tale of such great adventure to hardly be believed. Further, at the center of Antoine's story loomed a man-the dark Lord of Roanan. Known for his cruel nature, heartlessness, and tendency to violence, the Lord of Roanan had accused Antoine de Bellamont of wrong doing and demanded recompense. Antoine had promised recompense would be paid-with the hand of his youngest daughter in marriage.



Thus, Coquette found herself lost-thrust onto a dark journey of her own. This journey would find her carried away to Roanan Manor-delivered into the hands of the dark and mysterious Lord of Roanan who dominated it.



I enjoyed this book immensely. It was a sweet romance with just enough passion to keep you happy and comfortable. I was impressed with McClure and plan to read more of her books. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone needing a heartwarming love story.

New Blog

I have decided to try my hand at a new blog for people who HATE reading a book and half way through finding out that the H/H have no morals.