Bone Deep ~ Bonnie Dee

Bone Deep by Bonnie Dee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Such a sweet romance.

I had never heard of Bonnie Dee before picking up this book, but I will definitely be checking out more of her books.

Tom was one of the most unique and sweetest heroes I have come across in some time. His character was definitely the main thing I loved about this book.

I had a few issues that kept me from giving this a 5 star rating. Sarah came across as a little flat at times, and the story did seem to drag a bit towards the middle of the book. And this is billed as erotica, but the sex scenes were a bit tame in my opinion....the descriptions that the author used during the love scenes came off as a bit...cold at times. Also, I realize that Tom was very much a quiet man, but I did miss having him actually telling Sarah how he felt about her.

But otherwise, this was an overall beautiful love story between two lonely people who definitely deserved some happiness. This book left me with a big case of the warm fuzzies. :)

The Madness Of Lord Ian Mackenzie ~ Jennifer Ashley

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

On the surface this seems like a typical Historical romance.

"Mad" Lord Ian Mackenzie meets the beautiful widow Beth Ackerley at the opera and proceeds to warn her that the man she is engaged to, is only after her money. Being both a gentlemen and completely captivated by Miss Ackerley, Ian offers to marry her instead.

That is pretty much where the cliche' ends.

Ian is probably one of the most interesting characters I have come across in historical fiction. At a young age, he is committed to an asylum because he is considered to be uncontrollable. Ian's problem is not madness as so many assume. He actually suffers from a form of ADD & Aspergers. He has problems following conversations, but can recite what was said word for word weeks later. He has problems understanding different emotions and the concept of a joke is pretty much lost on him. But, the world around him, including himself and some of his family members, still consider him to be crazy. Beth is one of the few people to see past the labels and grasp who Ian truly is.

The love story between Ian and Beth is unconventional, but so sweet and tender that it works on every level. Just when you think you know where the story is going, it surprises you.

While I am a huge fan of Historical romance, it always nice to come across a story that differs from the mainstream. And this definitely does. A hidden gem that now has a permanent place on my keeper shelf.

Unclaimed ~ Courtney Milan

4 - 4 1/2 stars

Courtney Milan has fast become one of my very favorite authors. She has a way of weaving a story in such a simple, yet beautiful way...her characters are beautifully flawed and the reader can't help but care about them.

In the previous book of the series, [book:Unveiled|8663392], I will admit to not being overly fond of Mark, the youngest member of the Turner clan. He came off as aloof and very prim and proper (hard at work on a book detailing the joys of chastity). But, in Unclaimed, Mark became a truly wonderful male lead.

Milan handled Mark's virginity and view on the world in a believable way, and pairing him up with a 'fallen woman' out to seduce him, while seemingly a bit predictable, the way in which the seduction was handled, was anything but.

The only real flaw of this book was the fact that the ending seemed a little drawn out, and the resolution involving Jessica and her former 'protector' was a little too melodramatic for my tastes. It was those two factors alone that prevented me from giving this 5 stars. But otherwise, this was yet another wonderfully romantic, and sensual tale from Ms Milan.

ARC provided by NetGalley.com

The Night Circus ~ Erin Morgenstern

Having finished reading this a few days ago, i have been struggling ever since to try and put into words how much I enjoyed this book.

The Night Circus is a magical experience from start to finish.

The circus appears without warning.

Probably one of the best opening lines i have read in recent memory. it succeeds in grabbing you from the first lines, and I found myself staying up all night because i literally could not force myself to put this book down.

Le Cirque des Reves...The Circus Of Dreams, is a fitting name for the other-worldly attraction that captures the hearts and minds of so many people. At the heart of the circus are Celia and Marco...two illusionists trained from an early age by two very different but equally powerful magicians... pitted against each other in a mysterious competition that spans nearly 30 years. The way this secret competition ends up encompassing Celia and Marco's lives....and the lives of everyone associated with the Circus (both directly and behind the scenes) is the true heart of this beautiful story. Every aspect of the storytelling works on every level. From the characters, to the atmosphere, to the budding romance, and the sense of dread that falls over everyone as things begin to spiral out of control.

Every second I spent reading this book was a joy, and i look forward not only to reading this book again, but to devouring anything else Erin Morgenstern releases in the future.

Her Kilt-Clad Rogue ~ Julie Moffett

5 stars

I have always had a love for all things Scottish...especially historical romances set in that beautiful country. And Her Kilt-Clad Rogue was a delight from start to finish.

Scotsman Connor & Englishwoman Genevieve spend a perfect summer together, but when Connor abandons Genevieve to run off and marry another woman, Genevieve is left devastated. 10 years later, Genevieve is in desperate financial straits, is brought to Scotland to become the governess to Connor's son after the mysterious death of his wife....the woman he left Genevieve for all those years ago.

The story of how Connor and Genevieve find their way back to each other is sweet, and considering this is a short novella, the author succeeds in making the reader truly care about these characters and long for their chance at a true HEA.

Book provided by NetGalley.com

Unveiled ~ Courtney Milan

5+++++ Stars

After having only read 2 books by Courtney Milan, she has now become one of my Automatic Buy authors.

The plot has been dissected by many other reviewers, so I will just concentrate on my thoughts on the characters themselves.

This was without question one of the best historical novels I have ever read. Milan has such a beautiful way of bringing a story to life. Each and every character is fully developed and she especially has a knack for creating amazing heroes.

*Let the gush-fest begin* Simply put...Ash is my ideal man. He's intelligent, devoted to his family, prone to smartass comebacks, confident but with a sense of vulnerability that he's not afraid to show. And he's willing to go to any and every length to win the heart of the woman he loves. In Margaret, Ash sees the epitome of everything he wants, no matter her supposed 'station' in life.

You're important. You matter.

That statement is just...perfection. Especially in the context of the story, and how it relates to Margaret's character.

And I have to say that Milan handled Ash's 'secret' very well. She took a plot element that could have come off as melodramatic and just made it another aspect to the personality of a truly wonderful character. *end gush-fest*

Unveiled has earned a permanent spot on my favorites shelf, and I am so incredibly eager to dive into the next book in the series.

Pride & Passion ~ Charlotte Featherstone

ARC Courtesy of NetGalley.com

4 stars

I've been having a hard time trying to put my thoughts together regarding this book. There were a LOT of things i absolutely loved about it, and there were more than a few things I didn't like.

The beginning grabbed my attention immediately. I haven't read any other historical romances with a paranormal edge to them, so i really enjoyed that aspect (initially at least). Also, the first half of the book was written beautifully....the characters came to life, and I found myself being swept away in their story. Adrian, The Lord of Sussex was a wonderful character. He is a deeply passionate, loving man who keeps his emotions hidden behind a facade of a cold, boring aristocrat.

I can honestly say, without a doubt Featherstone has written some of the most sensual and erotic love scenes I have read in a LONG time, in this book. As someone who likes their sex scenes steamy....i was a happy camper.

Now as to what I didn't like...The names of the 3 main female characters....Lucy, Lizzy and Izzy. Needless to say, it was a bit confusing to try and keep track of who was who at times. Also, the last third of the book felt a little overblown to me. The paranormal aspect, and the dialogue between Lucy and Adrian just felt....forced and cliched at times. Also, the fact that for two thirds of the book Lucy is so dead-set against being with Adrian, that the way she just decides from one minute to the next that she simply MUST be with him didn't really work for me.

However, despite any minor problems I may have had with the final act, the over-all book was a very enjoyable, uber steamy read. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Tempt Me At Twilight ~ Lisa Kleypas

2 stars

I never thought I would see the day when I nearly gave up reading a Lisa Kleypas book out of sheer frustration. I have loved everything else I have read by her, and have quite the attachment to the Hathaway series. But, I just did not enjoy this book in so many ways.

My main problem was with the hero, Harry Rutlidge. This may end up being a very unpopular opinion, since i know so many people loved his and Poppy's story, but to me....there was very little to like about Harry. Yes, i know once the story of his childhood etc comes out, it is slightly easier to understand his actions and motivations, but for me, his behavior for the first half of this book completely turned me off on him. The obviously complete disregard for Poppy's feelings, and frankly his entire demeanor was just not attractive to me.

The only things I did enjoy about this book, were the scenes with the other members of the Hathaway clan, and I especially liked seeing the interactions between Marks and Leo. I have high hopes for that book, and hope that the rest of the series succeeds in making me forget how disappointing Poppy and Harry's story was.

The Lady Most Likely ~ Eloisa James, Connie Brockway, Julia Quinn

1 star

I tried....oh how I tried, to get into this book. I am usually not fond of anthologies to begin with, but I figured since I like all three authors, and i found the idea of a 'Novel written in three parts' intriguing, I thought I would give it a shot.

Unfortunately, this book is a huge mess. There are far too many characters to even attempt to keep track of, and it's also a choir trying to determine who's character is in the forefront of the a particular chapter, and who is just passing through.

The entire thing seemed ridiculously over-done; characters that are nothing more than historical romance cliche's (the ethereally beautiful girl who all the men are in love with, the boorish aristocratic, the rogue who loses his heart to an unexpected lady etc etc) witha kind of slapstick humor that i just don't enjoy. So, i found myself giving up on this a little over half way through.

Devil's Bride ~ Stephanie Laurens

1 1/2-2 Stars

I will freely admit it...i skimmed through a large portion of this book. I have nothing against an uber-Alpha male if written in the right way, but there was just something about Devil Cynster that REALLY bugged me right from the beginning. Yes, he was darkly brooding and handsome. Yes, he cared about the heroine, Honoria and refused to 'claim her' until she agreed to be his wife...but his rather brutish attitude bothered me. Also, i didn't really like Honoria all that much either, and the so-called murder mystery element was boring and took up far too much of the story. There were just long stretches of this book that felt like filler to me. Far too many secondary characters that I didn't feel the slight bit interested in.

On the good side, Laurens definitely knows how to write a steamy love scene. Although it felt like she spent the first half of the book building up to the big moment, and then she attempted to cram in as many sex scenes as possible until the last act of the book, which completely fell flat in my opinion.

I realize this is the first book of a long series that many people have recommended to me, and I definitely plan on giving the second book a shot at some point. But, in the end I can't help but feel very disappointed by Devil's Bride.

Unlocked ~ Courtney Milan

5+++ Stars

Unlocked was my introduction to the work of Courtney Milan, and what an introduction it turned out to be.

Milan somehow manages to give us more emotion, passion and character connection in this short novella, then a lot of other authors can do with twice as many pages.

I think what I loved most about this story, is that the plot wasn't one that had been done to death in the genre. Elaine has been the subject of ridicule due to the hurtful acts of both Evan and his cousin since their youth. One cruel remark has a snowball effect, and Elaine has been the butt of jokes ever since. But Evan has done much growing up over the years and has returned to attempt to make amends. And Elaine has no intention of making it easy for him.

Elaine is a wonderful character. She is a strong and vibrant and much more concerned about the attempts at humiliating her sweetly 'head in the clouds' Mother then anything directed at herself. And Evan is just as richly developed. He takes full responsibility for the actions in his youth that caused Elaine so much pain. Handled by another author, I doubt I would have been so quick to understand, and willing to forgive his character. But, just how much I ended up loving Evan is a testament to the talent of Milan at creating some of the most wonderful characters i have read about in some time. The H&h's slow dance not just towards a HEA, but to genuine trust and friendship, was deeply moving for me.

My one complaint, is that I wish their story could have been a full size novel. But, I am happy for taking the journey with them, as short as it may have been.

Mine Til Midnight ~ Lisa Kleypas

5++ Stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. I honestly haven't enjoyed a book this much in AGES. Cam Rohan is now firmly planted very close to the top of my list of all time favorite leading men.

The chemistry between Cam & Amelia is just breathtaking. I have always been a sucker for an Alpha male, and Cam is about as Alpha as they come. When he finally sets his mind to having Amelia, he won't let anyone or anything stand in his way. He's fierce, compelling, intense and sexy as hell and Amelia is helpless to resist his charm...and I definitely can relate.

This was my first experience reading Lisa Kleypas, and I have to admit I picked a great one to start with. From the first page, this book sucked me into the storyline, and the beautifully detailed world of the characters.

I have to point out something that many of the author's fans know all too well; Lisa Kleypas not only writes a hero to die for...but she has a knack for creating the most beautifully erotic love scenes I have ever read. She has said in the past that when she writes love scenes she choreographs them down to the last detail, and it's obvious that she does just that. She somehow manages to create toe-curling encounters without ever going too far in her descriptions. Her dialogue is always perfect...no eye-rolling or giggling, the way I have found myself doing while reading love scenes in other books. She knows how to mix romantic with scorchingly hot like no one else.

LK cares about every aspect of her novels, and it shows. Which is one of the many reasons she has such a devoted following. I for one consider myself lucky to include myself among them.

The Duke & I by Julia Quinn

3 out 5 stars

I have been spoiled by Lisa Kleypas. It is impossible for me to read an historical romance by any other author without in some way comparing it to LK's work. Which is admittedly unfair. But even with the huge shadow of Lisa Kleypas hanging over ever other historical novel that I read, I still ended up really enjoying this book.

The Good: I loved the Bridgerton family. Sometimes a big wacky, family can come off as more than a little over the top and silly. But, JQ made the family likable and believable, which was really nice. I also LOVED Simon, even though some of the things he did made me want to throttle him. And the love scenes, while not nearly as steamy as some by Kleypas, were still very well done.

The Not So Good: I found that the story dragged a little about half way through until picking back up towards the end. Also, some of the situations were fairly predictable, but in the end it didn't really matter since I was still interested in the story.

All in all, an enjoyable, quick read.

Passion by Lisa Valdez

5 out of 5 stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*

To me, Passion felt like two completely different books.

For the first 10o pages or so, I found myself caught up in the incredibly vivid and passionate secret love affair between Passion Dare (the heroine's name is beyond silly, but I got used to it) and the intense Mark Randolph Hawkmore.

Literally from the first sentence of this novel, the sexual chemistry and heat generated by these two characters is enough to render a person speechless. Okay, it rendered *me* speechless at least. There is a lot of sex in this book, especially early on. And, as it has been brought up by nearly everyone writing a review for this book, the sex scenes are incredibly vivid and detailed, and they along with the language may bother some readers. This is most definitely an historical erotica novel, with a BIG emphasis on the erotica part.

And while I was thoroughly enjoying the passion and naughtiness of this story, something happened round about 200 pages in. This book became less about blistering sex scenes, and much more about the intense, bone-deep love that the two characters felt for each other. The last third of this book broke my heart, and literally reduced me to a weepy mess.

Now that I have read Passion I see why it means so much to so many people. If you take the time to look past the vivid sensuality of the early parts of this book, you will find one of the most beautiful and deeply moving love stories I have ever read. I hope more people will open themselves up to this reading experience, because I'm so glad I did and this will definitely be a story I will never forget.

Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas

4 out of 5 stars

Suddenly You is a book that I was looking forward to reading with a giddy sense of anticipation. I had heard nothing but good things about it, and the snippets I had read online only seemed to whet my appetite. And while overall I did end up enjoying this book, there were certain things that bothered and downright frustrated me about it as well.

I loved the fact that in Amanda Briars, Kleypas has given us a self-made woman. The character is an author who has forged a life and career for herself without the help of a man in her life which was practically unheard of at the time. But unfortunately, I didn't end up liking her actual character all that much.

I can certainly understand Amanda's insecurities. However, the way she acted towards the hero Jack Devlin through a large part of this story, drove me batty. Considering how she had chosen to live her life so unconventionally before meeting him, I find it more than a little frustrating that she would care so much about what people thought of her being with Jack. Yes, he was her boss, but in my opinion it had more to do with her being embarrassed by his less than aristocratic upbringing. I realize that that is a common theme in historical novels, but for whatever reason, it truly bugged me here.

Having said all that, it will probably come as no surprise that I truly adored Jack Devlin, and his character is the main reason this book garnered 4 stars instead of 3. Lisa Kleypas has the Midas touch when it comes to creating thud-worthy heroes, and she has brought to life another winner in Jack. He is a 25 yr old man in love with an older woman who is...happily...not a stick figure. He unashamedly adores Amanda, and I love how in his eyes she is true perfection. The chemistry between Jack and Amanda right from the very beginning is scorching, and as usual, the love scenes are intensely erotic. I won't even get started on the raspberry scene...

I guess the fact that I felt so many different emotions while reading this book, is further testament to the brilliance of Kleypas. Even when i'm not thrilled with where she takes the story at times, I am always emotionally invested. And that's never a bad thing.

Mine Til Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

5 out of 5 stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. I honestly haven't enjoyed a book this much in AGES. Cam Rohan is now firmly planted very close to the top of my list of all time favorite leading men.

The chemistry between Cam & Amelia is just breathtaking. I have always been a sucker for an Alpha male, and Cam is about as Alpha as they come. When he finally sets his mind to having Amelia, he won't let anyone or anything stand in his way. He's fierce, compelling, intense and sexy as hell and Amelia is helpless to resist his charm...and I definitely can relate.

This was my first experience reading Lisa Kleypas, and I have to admit I picked a great one to start with. From the first page, this book sucked me into the storyline, and the beautifully detailed world of the characters.

I have to point out something that many of the author's fans know all too well; Lisa Kleypas not only writes a hero to die for...but she has a knack for creating the most beautifully erotic love scenes I have ever read. She has said in the past that when she writes love scenes she choreographs them down to the last detail, and it's obvious that she does just that. She somehow manages to create toe-curling encounters without ever going too far in her descriptions. Her dialogue is always perfect...no eye-rolling or giggling, the way I have found myself doing while reading love scenes in other author's books. She knows how to mix romantic with scorchingly hot like no one else.

LK cares about every aspect of her novels, and it shows. Which is one of the many reasons she has such a devoted following. I for one consider myself lucky to include myself among that following.