MISTRESS BY MISTAKE by Maggie Robinson

PUBLISHER: Brava, May 2010
SETTING: England, 1820
SERIES: Courtesan Court, #1
VIRGIN HEROINE? Yes
HEROINE: Charlotte Fallon, 30
HERO: Michael 'Bay' Bayard, 33
PURCHASE: link
GRADE: C

FROM PUBLISHER: Charlotte Fallon let her guarded virtue fall once -- and she's paid dearly for it ever since. She swore she'd never succumb to men's desires again. But even a village spinster's life miles from temptation can't save her from a sister with no shame whatsoever. Or a heart that longs for more, whatever the cost...

Sir Michael Bayard found more than he expected in his bed when he finally joined his new mistress. He'd fantasized about her dewy skin and luscious curves, assured her understanding that what passed between them was mere dalliance. But he didn't expect the innocence and heat of her response in his arms. Nor her surprisingly sharp tongue once she was out of them...

A few days of abandon cannot undo the hard-learned lessons of a lifetime. Nor can an honest passion burn away the restraints of society's judgments. Unless, of course, one believes in nonsense like true love...

MY THOUGHTS: I didn't care for this story. Too much humor ran throughout it. The lead characters never seemed to act serious. There was no depth to the story or characters. I found the beginning part of the plot a bit unbelievable. Charlotte wasn't responsible for the item her sister stole so Bay blackmailing her into staying and taking her sister Deborah's place was just crazy...and she had to have known it. She didn't come across as stupid so I don't know why she allowed herself to be blackmailed. I can only assume she wanted to take Deborah's place...and I can't say I blame her!

I really liked the female villain and thought her part could have been more eventful and should have lasted longer. The sex scenes seemed rushed and weren't graphic enough for me. I was expecting more in that category. Overall, I found the story and characters bland.

Maggie also writes under the name Margaret Rowe. You can visit her site here.

MISTRESS OF MY FATE by Hallie Rubenhold

PUBLISHER: Grand Central Publishing, 1/2013
ORIGINAL PUB: 2011 in the UK
GENRE: Historical Fiction
SETTING: England, late 1700s
AUTHOR SITE: Link
MY GRADE: A-

SYNOPSIS: Set during a period of revolution and turmoil, Mistress of My Fate is the first book in a trilogy about Henrietta Lightfoot, a young woman who was abandoned as a baby and raised alongside her cousins, noble children of a lord and lady. At just sixteen years old, circumstance and a passionate love affair tear Henrietta (Hetty) away from everything she knows, leading to a new life fending for herself on the streets of 18th century London as a courtesan, gambler, and spirited intellect of the city.

MY THOUGHTS:

Henrietta/Hetty: A lonely, naive teenager with only her cousin for a friend. She found herself in dire straits a few times and made some adult decisions because she felt she had no choice. She did the best she could.

Lady Catherine: Hetty's spoiled cousin. Not the nicest person to Hetty. I enjoy secondary characters like her a whole lot. I wish her character and her maids had been around longer. I just know she had some evil up her sleeve.

John St. John: Her mother's ex-lover. He's forty-four and she becomes his mistress at seventeen. I like him at first but he becomes so jealous that I start to get tired of him.

George Allenham: Hetty's love interest. I liked him at the beginning but as the story when on and he wasn't in it too much I began to dislike his character. I never understood why Hetty was so obsessed with being with him. I didn't think he was worth her time.

Philip Quindell: Hetty's 'protector'. He's about twenty-four, lovestruck/boderline obsessive and immature. I found him to be a bit annoying.

This was an enjoyable read told in first person narration. It spans about three years. Most of the story takes place in England and the last part, France.

My favorite part is when Hetty becomes St. John's mistress and devises a great plan to escape. I can't tell you anymore about it! My least favorite part is the last sixty-five pages or so. The story went in a different direction that I was expecting and it was a real letdown. I wish the last part could be rewritten, especially the ending.

This is one of just a few books that I've read lately that I really liked. I like historical fiction where the heroine is down on her luck or facing bad circumstances. There was something lacking in this. It needed more twists and turns, needed to be darker. It was a bit too mild. Accoring to the author's website, the next in the series, The French Lession, is to be darker. Yay!

I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

UNEXPECTED PLEASURES by Mary Wine

PUBLISHER: Brava, 6/2012
GENRE: Historical Romance
SETTING: England, 1546
AUTHOR SITE: link
PURCHASE: link
MY GRADE: C

SYNOPSIS: As Lady Justina Wincott's brutal guardian, Viscount Biddeford promises any disobedience from her will cost her son dearly. A pawn in his games of court treachery, the beautiful widow is forced to tempt secrets from his enemies and seduce allegiance from his friends. Yet even Biddeford's wrath won't make Justina sully the only man of honor she's ever known…

Sir Synclair has earned his honor in blood and muck. War taught him the way to victory is rarely clean--but the passion Justina sparks in him is not to be ignored. Never mind the predators who crave her beauty, or Biddeford's ruthless wiles; he will have her as his wife. And yet if he is to wed Justina, his fiercest battle may be with the lady herself…

MY THOUGHTS: What a disappointment. Neither main character was very interesting to me nor was the thin plot, which was too tame and boring. Justina is under the thumb of a terrible man, Biddeford. He's the most interesting character in the book. Predictably, bad things come his way.

Synclair is very alpha and I never understood his obsession with wanting to marry Justina. The sex scenes were very explicit and I enjoyed them. Sadly, the sex was the best part of the whole story.

I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

DEFIANT CAPTIVE by Kathy Jones

PUBLISHER: Zebra Heartfire, 11/1987
GENRE: Historical Romance
SETTING: West Indies, unknown date
BODICE RIPPER? Yes
PURCHASE: link
MY GRADE: B-

FROM PUBLISHER: Kathleen O'Connor refused to give in to despair. She'd proven how strong she could be--she'd survived weeks of terror in the dark hold of a pirate ship and had bravely faced the humiliation of the auction block. Now that she'd been sold to Captain Kade Morgan, it was time she planned her escape. The Irish beauty thought of his tall, muscular frame and sparkling ebony eyes and sighed. It would not be easy to flee the handsome pirate, especially when her traitorous body yearned for the rough magic of his embrace. But she'd be no man's slave--not even if her master had already tamed her wild heart!

Kade appraised his raven-haired prize with growing admiration. She had courage, all right. After all she'd been through, her blue-green eyes still gleamed with pride and fury. He had no desire to break her spirit, but he ached to replace that fury with willing passion. She was his to command and he had but one request--that she give herself to him with all the glorious fire in her soul. If she needed some... persuasion, he'd gladly supply it. He'd tease her full, red lips with searing kisses, he'd stroke her ivory skin until she writhed beneath his knowing touch. And in the end he'd possess all the wanton sweetness of his Defiant Captive.

MY THOUGHTS/SPOILER SUMMARY: This story started out good. Seventeen year old Kathleen was kidnapped and held for ransom. It was orchestrated by Quint Cathcart. He wants to buy her Arabian horse, Taran, but her father won't sell it. He and his men go there to steal the horse but can't find it, so they kidnap Kathleen instead and plan to hold her for ransom in exchange for her horse. Right before she's kidnapped, they burn her home to the ground and her mother dies in it. The ransom note they send to her father is accidentaly sent to her neighbor, Silas Pennington.

Her kidnapper, Quint, is angry about something so he sells her at auction. Thirty-five year old Scotsman Captain Kade Morgan buys her with the intention of sending her back to wherever she came from. She's held prisoner on his ship and Kade, in true bodice ripper fashion, treats her badly. The first sex scene is what I'd call forced seduction. All the sex scenes with them are spicy. The rest of the story is very boring but there's a bit of action right at the end involving Silas.

WHEN SHE WAS WICKED by Anne Barton

PUBLISHER: Forever, 2/2013
GENRE: Historical romance
SETTING: England, 1815
AUTHOR SITE: link
MY GRADE: C

SYNOPSIS: A dressmaker in London's busiest shop, Miss Anabelle Honeycote overhears the ton's steamiest secrets-and (occasionally) uses them to her advantage. It isn't something she's proud of, but the reluctant blackmailer needs the money to care for her gravely ill mother. To make up for her misdeeds, Anabelle keeps to a firm set of rules:

Never request payment from someone who cannot afford it. Never reveal the secrets of a paying client. Never enter into any form of social interaction with a client.

Her list keeps her (somewhat) honest-until she encounters Owen Sherbourne, the Duke of Huntford.

Not only does Owen nip Anabelle's extortion plans in the bud, the devilishly handsome Duke soon has the sexy seamstress dreaming of more than silks and satins. With Owen Anabelle enjoys pleasures she never imagined. . . until a scandal from the past resurfaces. Now her rules could mean his family's ruin. Owen's searing kisses carry the promise of passion, but how will he react when Anabelle's most devastating secret is finally revealed?

MY THOUGHTS: This review contains spoilers. This was a disappointment. Both Owen and Anabelle are very likeable. I love that Anabelle wasn't raised wealthy and actually had a paying job. I was enjoying the book a lot until the plotline got taken over by Owen's sister, Rose. That subplot was uninteresting to me. From what I've heard and read, the only time someone stops speaking completely is a child that's been molested, not some teenager who caught a parent cheating. It's ridiculous.

I think the extortion plot could have gone on much longer before Owen found out it was Anabelle. Some interesting things could have gone on with him while trying to find out who the culprit was. In a nutshell, he found out it was her days later, invited her to live in his home to create dresses for his sisters, began a sexual relationship with her then the storyline disappeared. It was just Anabelle, Olivia, and Rose hanging around the house doing nothing. Then the Rose-not-speaking mystery was solved. Really nothing went on with the main couple. I just don't think this was a good, believable story at all.

I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

HAVEN OF OBEDIENCE by Marina Anderson

PUBLISHER: Grand Central Publishing 11/2012
First published in the U.K. in 2000
GENRE: Contemporary Erotica
SETTING: England
MY GRADE: B-

FROM PUBLISHER: Twenty-something Londoner Natalie Bowen is envied by many, but her personal life is a disaster. Then she hears about an exclusive weekend retreat called The Haven, a place that specializes in introducing people to pleasures they could never have imagined. Shocked at the idea, but unable to resist finding out more, Natalie decides it's time to put her hears behind her. Once at The Haven, Natalie meets the enigmatic and disciplined Simon, a man who is used to getting what he wants. And he's decided he wants Natalie...

MY THOUGHTS: I was excited to read this but became disappointed midway. At the club early on, the way some of the characters acted made no sense, including the main character, Natalie. They constantly complained and never wanted to do what they were told even though they're paying to use the club and are there of their own free will. I got real tired of the complaints. I realize this is fiction but someone in their position, who's paying to use a sex club to be taught how to give up some control in the bedroom, wouldn't act like that at all.

My enjoyment of all the sexual senarios that went on was diminished by the excessive amount of orgasms Natalie was having. Total overkill on the author's part and it got old real quick.

The story was too condensed and rushed. There was no character development and we learned nothing about Natalie and Simon's backgrounds. Basically, the story wasn't well written and needs a lot of work...but it does have potential if it was to be reworked. It seems amateurish.

I received this in exchange for an honest review.

LORD GRAY'S LIST by Maggie Robinson

PUBLISHER: Brava, 11/2012
SETTING: England, 1820
GENRE: Historical romance
SERIES: The London List, #1
PURCHASE: link
MY GRADE: C

FROM PUBLISHER: The brainchild of Evangeline Ramsey, the London List features the latest gossip as well as blind advertisements. Every London resident, from the lowliest kitchen maid to the most exalted duchess, looks forward to Tuesday morning, when the newspaper publishes and speculation rises.

Baron Benton Gray is sick of finding his latest peccadilloes printed in the London List - and shocked to find his old love, Evangeline Ramsey, at the helm. He buys the newspaper from her ailing father with the intention of shutting it down, only to face uproar from its eager readers. Forced to enlist Evie's aid to re-start the newspaper, he finds that putting the paper to bed becomes an unexpected pleasure for them both...unexpected plot twists, humour, and plenty of "romangst."

MY THOUGHTS: I wasn't at all happy with this book. It's not believable that Evie could masquerade as a man for years and get away with it. I just couldn't get past that. She and Ben were likable and I enjoyed the dialogue between them, the way they were always aruging. I don't like a heroine being as old as her, thirty-two, nor do I like that Evie was slightly older than Ben, who's thirty.

I didn't like that Evie's big nose was mentioned often nor did I like the bit of violent nonsense involving Evie and another female character about halfway through the book. It came out of nowhere. Something else that had no place in the book was when some woman came to Evie and wanted her to write a bad story about her abusive husband. Ben got involved in that for no reason and I just had to roll my eyes and wonder why that character was even in the story.


I received this from the author in exchange for an honest review.

SLAVE by Sherri Hayes

PUB. INFO: The Writer's Coffee Shop Pub. House, 7/2011
GENRE: BDSM
SERIES: Finding Anna, book 1
MY GRADE: F

SYNOPSIS: Stephan has lived the lifestyle of a Dominant for five years. After several rebellious teenage years, it gave him the stability and control he had been seeking after his parent’s death.

As president of a not-for-profit foundation, he knows what his future holds and what he wants out of life. All that changes when a simple lunch with his college friend and Mentor, Daren, leads him to buying a slave.

Thrust into a situation he never thought he’d be in, Stephan can’t walk away. He is compelled to help this girl in the only way he knows how.

Brianna knows only one thing, she is a slave. She has nothing. She is nothing.

Can Stephan help Brianna realize that she is much more than just a Slave?

MY THOUGHTS: Boy, was this terrible. Brianna Reeves is a beaten down, abused, eighteen year old 'slave' in every sense of the word and seems pretty content to stay that way.

Stephan is probably at least ten years older than her (his age wasn't given) and very involved in the dark side of life. He's wealthy and though the author tries to fool the readers into believing he's a hero, hero he ain't, in my book. He buys her to get her out of a terrible situation only to put her into a new submissive one...with him, with collar and on. He's not physically or sexually abusive but ordering someone around, someone who's still a teen, and treating them like a piece of property, is abuse.

Something I find odd and totally unbelievable is, after knowing her a few days or weeks, he gets her enrolled in school to get her GED, sets her up for college, buys her a car, cell phone and all this other BS.

There was no sex in this book, except for one scene early on, and if there was more, I somehow missed it. Fine by me since I don't like either character. Stephan is pure garbage.

The only thing I liked about this was how the first person narration switched between Stephan and Brianna throughout.

I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

LADY GONE BAD by Sabine Starr

PUBLISHER: Brava, 9/2012
GENRE: Historical romance
SETTING: Texas, America, 1883
AUTHOR SITE: link
MY GRADE: C

SYNOPSIS: The saloon singer known as "Lady Gone Bad" is the most drop-dead gorgeous outlaw the West has ever seen. Lady has never met a cowboy she couldn't entice, or a lawman she couldn't outrun. But when Lady tangles with a sexy U.S. Marshall, she's tempted to stick around long enough to watch him lay down the law - in her bed.

U.S. Marshall Rafe Morgan wants to lock up Lady Gone Bad for good - and he won't let his attraction to her slow him down. But when his attempt to bring Lady to justice goes awry, Rafe is nearly hanged - and by dawn, his face is plastered next to hers on every "Wanted" poster in Texas. Now on the run together, Rafe and Lady find themselves in very close quarters - and even more compromising positions. As Lady surrenders to Rafe's touch, she slowly begins to reveal all her secrets - including her real name. Maybe "Lady Gone Bad" isn't beyond redemption after all. Either way, Rafe is in for one wild ride...

MY THOUGHTS: This book was a true western. I don't really see it as romance because of how much action was in it. The hero and heroine were on the run with each other starting less than ten pages into the story and it just never slowed down, ever. Too fast, too much action for my taste.

The heroine and hero both have had tragedies in their lives and they work together to try to bring closure. The plot involving Rafe's sister just wasn't at all believable to me.

I liked the hero but the heroine seemed a bit too modern and sassy. She's twenty-seven and her real name is Sharlot but she goes by 'Lady' and 'Lady Gone Bad'. That in and of itself is just silly and annoying at the same time.

Overall, I didn't like any part of the story. It was more of an action western and that just didn't appeal to me. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

THIEF OF SHADOWS by Elizabeth Hoyt

PUBLISHER: Grand Central Publishing, 7/2012
GENRE: Historical Romance
SETTING: England, 1738
SERIES: Maiden Lane, book 4
MY GRADE: B-

SYNOPSIS: Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day he's the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles-protector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide.

Lady Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when she's asked to tutor the Home's dour manager in the ways of society-flirtation, double-entendres, and scandalous liaisons-Isabel can't help wondering why his eyes seem so familiar-and his lips so tempting.

During the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their passions are revealed . . . But when little girls start disappearing from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to sacrifice everything-the Home, Isabel . . . and his life.

MY THOUGHTS: I had high expectations for this. I really liked the synopsis and thought this would be an exciting read. Instead it was a bit boring. I liked both hero and heroine but something was missing and I can't put my finger on what is was.

The twenty-six year old hero being a virgin was a total turn-off and I'm not sure what the point of that was. Other than that, I like the man he is and the good deeds he's doing for children under cover of night.

I too liked the graphic sex scenes and that the heroine wasn't a dried up young widow. Since her husband's death, she's had a few lovers. I also liked little Christopher. I'm not ususally too happy about children being in romance books but I enjoyed his character a lot and found him to be a little cutie who was just looking for a mother's love. I'm not happy with the way Isobel was cold to him but I understand it a bit.

I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.