Dreaming of You (Gamblers of Craven #2)

Dreaming of You Summary:
She stood at danger's threshold—then love beckoned her in.

In the shelter of her country cottage, Sara Feilding puts pen to paper to create dreams. But curiosity has enticed the prim, well-bred gentlewoman out of her safe haven—and into Derek Craven's dangerous world.

A handsome, tough and tenacious Cockney, he rose from poverty to become lord of London's most exclusive gambling house—a struggle that has left Derek Craven fabulously wealthy, but hardened and suspicious. And now duty demands he allow Sara Fielding into his world—with her impeccable manners and her infuriating innocence. But here, in a perilous shadow-realm of ever-shifting fortunes, even a proper "mouse" can be transformed into a breathtaking enchantress—and a world-weary gambler can be shaken to his cynical core by the power of passion...and the promise of love.

Dreaming of You Review:
Warning: There may be mild spoilers below, but don’t worry, most of them are obvious because this is a romance novel.

What an amazing book! By far the best in this series and one of Kleypas’ best books! It started off as a typical romance but ended off with a beautiful romance that truly takes you on a journey. Kleypas found her place in this series because there was a much stronger connection between the characters and the story telling has definitely improved. Both characters were REALLY different and that made the classic tale that opposites attract into a remarkable love story.

“Derek returned her gaze, idly stroking her hair and back. “What is it, angel?”
“You told me once you didn’t know how ‘happy’ feels.”
“I remember.”
“And now?”
Derek regarded her for a long moment, then pulled her flat against him, locking her in his arms. “It’s this,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse. “Right here and now.”
And she rested against his heart, content.”

Sara Fielding was such a weird heroine in the beginning (In the best way possible). She is an amazing author who writes about social and political issues in Victorian Society. It’s a courageous and daunting task especially because she is a woman. The job requires her to travel to dangerous parts of London for research and that’s how she stumbles upon Derek, as he is getting attacked in an alley. It is her innocence, curiosity and naiveté that is astounding and endearing, especially to Derek.

“She wondered if the men coming and going from the gambling hell would be able to answer her questions. Most of them were quite disreputable, with unshaven faces and poor hygiene. Perhaps it would be unwise to ask them anything—they might not welcome an interruption in their evening revels. On the other hand, she needed to talk to them for the sake of her book. And Sara was always careful not to judge people by outward appearances.”

Derek Craven is the exact opposite. Hardened by life with no hopes for a good future Derek is crass, rude and cynical. He puts on a careless façade to defend against others who could come to care for him.

“He stood there frozen in defeat, with all the warmth and promise of her in his arms…and he couldn’t allow himself to take what she offered. He’d never felt so worthless, so much a fraud. Perhaps for a day, a week, he could be what she wanted. But no longer than that. He had sold his honor, his conscience, his body, anything he could use to escape the lot he’d been given in life. And now, with all his great fortune, he couldn’t buy back what he’d sacrificed. Were he capable of tears, he would have shed them. Instead he felt numbing coldness spread through his body, filling up the region where his heart should have been.”

He erected this barrier because he feels that the doesn’t deserve anything good and that flaw in his character is the opening for Sara to blindside him. Before he can realize what has happened, he has fallen in love with Sara and is ruined to all other women. We see the golden, but deeply broken heart that lies within him, and when awakened shows his vast potential for love.

“He was so far from the gallant knights in her romantic fantasies ... He was tarnished, scarred, imperfect.
Deliberately he had destroyed any illusions she might have had about him, exposing his mysterious past for the ugly horror that it was. His purpose had been to drive her away. But instead she felt closer to him, as if the truth had bonded them in a new intimacy.”

Alex and Lily come back into this novel and they make a stunning pair. Their book was not very strong but you can see their love shine through in this novel. They did not steal the show, instead worked in the background to help Sara and Derek. It was really great to revisit their new family.

Alex sighed with tremendous relief. “Thank God,” he muttered, and went to his carriage. He couldn’t wait to tell Lily the good news. In fact, he might decide never to let Lily out of his sight again. He rubbed his tired eyes and spoke to the coachman. “Well, Craven’s got his second chance. As for me…I’m going home to my wife now. Step lively about it.”
“It’s like that, is it, m’lord?” the coachman asked cheekily, and Alex gave him a wry grin.
“Let’s go.”

This will be a spoiler when I talk about this. The last thing that was spectacular about this book was how Derek treated kids. He loved Sara because she found a way into her heart. And because Derek never had any parental figure or someone to take care of, you would think that he wouldn't know how to deal with kids. For Derek, his baby comes at a bittersweet moment and shows how his character has changed.

"Sara had expected that he would be a kind but uninvolved father. He had never known the relationship between parent and child before. She had thought he might preserve a careful distance between himself and the baby. Instead he loved his daughter with open adoration. Often he would tuck her in the crook of his arm and parade her before guests as if a baby were a lovely miracle none of them had ever seen before. He thought her prodigiously clever for holding his finger, for kicking her legs, for making adorable sounds, for doing all the things that babies usually did…except that in his opinion his daughter did them far better."

Okay, the spoiler is over.

Overall this book is a 5 star read, duh! Everything about this book was perfect, a splendid way to end this series! It was beautiful, passionate, realistic and shows what romance is really about. This book shows when Kleypas found her place in HR and demolished all standards. It is this standard that made her so popular and made the Wallflowers and the Hathaways captivating.

P.S. Did anyone else get Jane Eyre vibes after the climax of the book? With the fire, redemption and new love?

Then Came You (Gamblers of Craven #1)

Then Came You Summary:
A woman with a secret...

Reckless beauty Lily Lawson delights in shocking London society. She will break any rule to get what she wants . . . and she is determined to stop her younger sister from marrying Alex, Lord Wolverton, a handsome and arrogant earl who has vowed never to fall in love.

A man who will do anything to possess her...

To Alex's fury, the headstrong hellion presents a temptation he can't resist. He vows to make her pay dearly for her interference—with her body, her soul, and her stubborn, well-guarded heart.

As Alex and Lily challenge each other at every turn, they are caught up in a white-hot desire that burns through every defense and exposes the mystery of Lily's past . . . and together they discover that love is the most dangerous game of all.

Then Came You Review:
I am going in order of the books series, that I have read so far, not the order in which I read the books. That is why I talk as if I already know what’s happening in the plot, because I do J So I can say without a doubt that this was definitely not one of Kleypas’ best books. It lacked a likable heroine and hero which resulted in a weird romance story, but the plot was interesting to say the least!

Beware, there may be spoilers below.

The story was based on Lily trying to find and get back her daughter. It was an incredibly interesting context of it’s uniqueness and Kleypas always brings out incredibly strong emotions when she writes a story. Kleypas handled some extremely dark moments and topics with ease. She never made the scenes completely emotional. The same was done to the rest of the plot. The emotion was there but it was layered perfectly with the idea and the writing style. The world building was really nice, and made me excited for the next novel even if this was not amazing.

The heroine, Lily was a strong heroine. With the bad hand she has been dealt, how could she not. She was constantly facing disappointment with family and friends abandoning her, not being able to protect those she loves and being forced into horrible/desperate situations. Yet, she lives the life of a single, 21st century women. Pretending to owe her life to no one, everyone mistakes her for a carefree spirit that has no care for life. But it is all an act that she holds onto for most of the book. She is one of the few Kleypas heroines that has been hardened by life. I loved seeing this dark side to a female character and to, once again, not be overly emotional. The only flaw with her character was the she was too untrustworthy. She did not talk about her problem to Alex until the VERY end of the book. It got to the point that Lily was just creating more unnecessary problems and drama.

“I can’t help you if you won’t trust me,” he said with quiet intensity. “I can’t protect you from shadows, or keep you safe from dreams.”
“I’ve told you everything…I…I don’t know.”
There was a long silence. “Have I ever mentioned,” he said coldly, “how much I hate being lied to?”
She averted her gaze, looking at the carpet, the wall, the door, anywhere but his face. “I’m sorry.” She wanted him to hold and cuddle her as he always did after her bad dreams. She wanted him to make love to her, so that for a little while she could forget everything but the powerful warmth of him inside her. “Alex, take me back to bed.”
With impersonal gentleness, he eased her away and turned her in the direction of the bedroom. “Go on. I’m going to stay up for a while.”

While Lily had one problem, Alex was just a huge problem. He took Alpha male to a new level. Instead of changing from the overbearing man he was in the beginning, which can be excused, he stayed the same until the very end. He constantly looked down at Lily because he was too close to his ex-wife’s memory. He devalued her over and over again, and refused to look beyond the exterior to find out her reasons. He constantly made assumptions about her character and repeatedly tried to own her.

“You'll be my wife," he said inexorably.
"You want to own me!" she accused, trying to crawl away from him.
"Yes." He flung her down on the bed and flattened his weight on her. As he spoke, his hot breath fanned
her mouth and chin. "Yes. I want other people to look at you and know you're mine."

There were two good things about Alex that saved him from being a total dick. First, his love for Henry. He is insanely protective of Henry and almost beats down another man, because he hurt Henry. It was sweet. Another thing was how he treated others. While he wasn’t respectful to Lily, he amazing to Penelope, Nicole and others. And will never stop protecting them from harm. This was shown a lot near the end of the book, and that’s why the book ended on such a high note.

“Lily.” He took her shoulders and pulled her to him gently. The unanchored sheet fell to her waist, baring her slender body. “You know I’d rather you didn’t hunt—I can’t stand the thought of a single scratch or bruise on you. But I don’t want to deprive you of anything that makes you happy. I know how you love to hunt. As long as you’re careful, and walk the horse around the more difficult jumps, I don’t have any objections.”

There was one other character that this book absolutely needed and that was Derek. With his Cockney accent and ruthless demeanor, he swept into our hearts making us excited for his book, Dreaming of You. I hope at least in the next book that Kleypas takes away part of the accent because I couldn’t understand half the dialogue with him. He is another tortured hero, which makes him all the more exciting to reach his happy ending. But there’s one thing I do have to say. He left Lily when she needed him the most so that he could protect his heart. I don’t like that he did it, but I understand why he did it. (I just wanted to try and explain his situation)

One thing before I conclude this review is a mini rant on the heroes. In all of Kleypas’ novels there is always a domineering alpha that is the hero. He is always a womanizing, arrogant, rich male (Sir Ross doesn’t fit into that). Why is it that only those people can showcase their love? What about the quiet, bookish types who can be just as “passionate” as the alphas. But then again, every author has their “type”. But still I would like to read another book without the same old alpha.

The ending was beautifully written and wrapped up the novel in a splendid way. To say the least, it bumped this book up a star. I wish the romance from the last part replaced the first part so that the whole book could have been amazing. The two have their own quirky way of romance that really shone through in the end!

What do you want to wager that it’s a boy?”
Alex bent his head to murmur in her ear.
Lily laughed throatily. “That’s all?” she teased provocatively. “I thought you were more of a gambler than that.” Smiling, she drew him down to her, her hands clasping his broad back. “Come closer, my lord,” she whispered, “and we’ll see if we can’t raise the stakes.”

Overall this book is a 4 star read! It had a mix of complex and diverse characters filled with an intriguing plot and interesting concept. There were flaws here and there, but the book is not the worst of Kleypas’ HR. While it doesn’t compare to the start of the Wallflowers or Hathaways’ series, it helped open up our eyes to another wonderful series.

Worthy Any Price (Bow Street Runners #2)

Worthy Any Price Summary:
Nick Gentry is reputed to be the most skillful lover in all England. Known for solving delicate situations, he is hired to seek out Miss Charlotte Howard. He believes his mission will be easily accomplished - but that was before he met the lady in question.

For instead of a willful female, he discovers one in desperate circumstances, hiding from a man who could destroy her very soul. So Nick shockingly offers her a very different kind of proposition - one he has never offered before.

He asks her to be his bride.

And he knows that this will be much more than a union in name only. For he senses what Charlotte does not yet know - that her appetite for sensuality matches his own. But what Nick learns surprises him. For while London's most notorious lover might claim Charlotte's body, he quickly discovers it will take much more than passion to win her love.

Worthy Any Price Review:
Worth Any Price is around the same enjoyment level as Lady Sophia’s Lover. It wasn’t as good, but still not as bad as Someone to Watch Over Me. This book concludes the Bow Street Runners series which, in comparison to the Wallflowers/the Hathaways, needed some work on the characters and world building. In Worth Any Price, the plot was interesting, the characters were unique and we got to conclude the series in the best way possible.

This book had some really sweet moments, adequate character development and interesting plot. First, I’ll talk about the two main characters. These two started off really strong, but throughout their romance, their character flaws became really pronounced.

You could see most of this change in Charlotte, or Lottie as she prefers to be called. A normal girl couldn’t run away from home to protect herself from a controlling male. She chooses to become a servant instead of living in comfort so that she can live her own life. It was this act of courage that started the story and showed the type of steel that Lottie has inside her. This is what makes you rally behind, to hope that she gets her happily ever after.

“Yes, come along.” She gave his athletic form a deliberately challenging glance. “I only hope that you’ll be able to keep pace with me.”
“I’ll try,” he assured her wryly, falling into step beside her as she continued her walk.
They approached the trunk of a huge oak that had fallen across the path. Insects buzzed lazily through the rays of strengthening sunlight that streamed in from above. “Look,” Lottie said, gesturing to a dragonfly as it flew and dipped before them. “There are more than a dozen varieties of dragonfly in this forest, and at least a hundred different moths. If you come at dusk, you can see purple hairstreak butterflies— they gather right there at the tops of the tr—”
“Miss Miller,” he interrupted, “I’m a Londoner. We don’t care about insects, except to consider how they may best be exterminated.”
Lottie heaved a theatrical sigh, as if vexed by his lack of interest in the subject. “All right, then. I will refrain from describing the many varieties of aquatic beetle we have here.”
“Thank you,” came his fervent reply.

As soon as she moves away with Nick, we see her first flaw come out. She is too trustworthy. Even though she knows to be wary of men, she lets Nick kiss her repeatedly and walks alone in the forest with him, this is really soon after she meets him. From there we see her live with Nick and try and get used to him. When she tried to love him, I felt as though she was pitying him. It did turn into a really sweet love story, but in the beginning it was a lot more of pity. Another problem I had with her character was the significant changes in her personality. She went from being strong to weak as she always felt sad when Nick turned away from her. Instead of using a scheme (not in the bad, manipulative sense) to get Nick to understand her. It left her pushing Nick around for answers instead of listening or helping him because he clearly doesn’t want to be around others. The one good that she did in the relationship is refuse to kiss him. She didn’t jump into this relationship and valued herself over what he wanted to do with her.

Nick also was a conflicting hero. On one side he was the typical romance hero. He was incredibly sweet (maybe charming is the better word) to everyone that he cared about. He was not abrasively arrogant, nor was he overtly emotional. He was a tortured hero, and from reading Kenyon’s books I can say the Kleypas did pretty good job with Nick. He was always brooding and contained with what he did, but it worked with his past. On the other hand, he was constantly reminding us of his sexual prowess and his utter machoness (No that isn't a word). That got irritating quickly.

His lips quirked wryly. “No viscountess I’ve ever seen looks like you, Lottie.”
She smiled. “Is that a compliment?”
“Oh, yes. In fact…” Nick took her gloved hand and assisted her down the last step. He held her gaze compulsively, his fingers tightening around hers, and he answered her light question with a gravity that stunned her. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world,” he said huskily.
“The world?” she repeated with a laugh.
“When I say you’re beautiful,” he murmured, “I refuse to qualify the statement in any way. Except to add that the only way you could be more so is if you were naked.”
She laughed at his audacity. “I am afraid that you will have to reconcile yourself to the fact that I’m going to remain fully clothed tonight.”
“Until after the ball,” he countered.

Other than that, the book was really interesting to read, the romance was cliché but this is Romance so it has to be that way. The bantering or communication between the main couple was incredibly enjoyable to read. It was amusing and sometimes, very heartfelt.

“I finally know what to wish for.”
Puzzled, she gazed down at him while the long locks of her hair trailed over his chest and shoulders. “What?”
“The wishing well,” he reminded her.
“Oh, yes…” Lottie lowered her face to his chest and nuzzled the soft fur, recalling that morning in the forest. “You wouldn’t make a wish.”
“Because I didn’t know what I wanted. And now I do.”
“What do you want?” she asked tenderly.
His hand slipped behind her head, pulling her mouth down to his. “To love you forever,” he whispered just before their lips met."

The climax was weird. It was incredibly suspenseful but was cut short by what happened to Lottie. It felt to easy, but we got to see Nick realize this love for Lottie so it wasn’t all bad.

Another great thing we got from this book were the side characters, mostly Cannon and Grant. I loved seeing him interact with the two older men and try to understand their life advice. They forced Nick to own up to his position which was hilarious! The humor from their interactions was a great way to counteract the romance and drama from the couple.

“No matter how strong our resolve, we eventually find ourselves enslaved by the compulsive preference for one particular woman. You’ve been caught, my friend. You may as well reconcile yourself to it.”
Nick did not bother trying to deny it. “I was going to be so much smarter than you,” he muttered. Sir Ross grinned. “I prefer to think that intelligence has nothing to do with it. For if a man’s intellect is measured by his ability to remain untouched by love, I would be the greatest idiot alive.”

Overall this book is a 4.5 read. I originally but it at 3 but the Cannon and Grant brought it up .5 with their humor. Another star came from Marcus. This book made me realize that book the Gamblers series and BSR are happening right before The Wallflowers series!!

In A House Made of Bones and Teeth (The Lovegrove Legacy #3)

In A House Made of Bones and Teeth Summary:
London is under attack.

Can Emma, Gretchen, Penelope find their way back to each other in order to defeat the Seven Sisters once and for all?

In A House Made of Bones and Teeth Review:
I just looked at the excerpt so this review is going to be REALLY short!

The excerpt itself is incredibly short and that's saying something because the book itself is a novel, therefore very short. The excerpt was cute. There was tons of action for such a small section but we are left on a cliffhanger so that's bad. I'm sad that Godric is dead! I have a knack for finding a favorite character that ends up dying. It was really nice to revisit these old characters, and honestly it's been so long since Whisper the Dead so I kind of forgot some of the characters. Thankfully, this was a great way to recap on what has happened.

I'm kinda angry that Harvey didn't get to finish her series because it is really good and deserved to be finished. On the other hand, I understand that this is a competitive business, I just wish she got to finish her story first. Anyways, really great book, five star rating, and I hope to finish the rest of the book soon!

Told ya this was going to be short :)

Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street Runners #2)

Lady Sophia's Lover Summary:

Why is Lady Sophia looking for a lover?
And could she seduce the most marriageable man in London?

Lady Sophia Sydney would do anything to ensnare the unattainable Sir Ross Cannon. Her goal: to ruin his reputation and cause a scandal that would be the talk of all London. So she insinuates herself into his life by gaining his trust and living in his house.

Every morning, her lush presence tempts him beyond all reason . . . the way she bends over the table to serve him the meals she has prepared . . . the way her hands oh, so gently—yet sensuously—brush against him. Every night, she promises with her eyes—and her body—that the hours before dawn could be spent in unbridled passion instead of restless sleep—if only he'd let her share his bed.

She knows he is falling more in love with her each day. But she never counted on falling in love with him. And she never dreamed he might very respectably ask for her hand in marriage.

Lady Sophia's Lover Review:
Thank you Lisa Kleypas for writing a better book in the Bow Street Runners series! This book focuses on Sir Ross, the controlled (emotionally) man who runs the Bow Street Runners, and Sophia, who is out to get revenge for her dead brother.

I did love this book, but there were still problems with it. So before I talk about all of that, I’m going to get out all the bad stuff. First, Sophia’s plan is stupid. Knowing that Ross is celibate in the memory of his wife and has iron control of his emotions, most women would not be able to seduce. Thankfully for the plot, Sophia is the one girl that can seduce him and she does from the minute she enters the interview. She could have gotten into the Runner’s building and worked there to get access to the files she needed. The seducing seemed additional just to fit in with the sexiness of HR.

The second problem is that Sophia lost most of her fire by the end of the novel. She started off really passionate because she wanted revenge but as soon as she started her relationship she became almost docile. The example below is not the best example because I get why she didn’t talk back, but it irked me that she didn’t say that he would have done the same thing if the positions were reversed. I didn’t expect her to yell, but she could have at least said something instead of just agreeing.

“'Right now, I want to discuss your actions this evening. And you’re going to explain how you could have taken such a risk when you know how I feel about your safety!’”
Sophia shrank backward against the pillows as he proceeded to deliver a blistering lecture that would have caused anyone else to wither. However, she knew that his ire was born of his love for her, and so she received every word with humble agreement.”

Most of her weakness, docility, little bit stupidness (that’s not proper grammar or spelling) came after she joined the relationship, which really brought the enjoyment down.

The last problem came from the number of sex scenes. It was everywhere! And that used it so often instead of talking.

“For a thousand different reasons.” Deliberately she rubbed her breasts against his chest. “Let me show you how much I love you. How I need you in every way.” This is after Ross yells at her for putting her at risk.

“Let me,” she whispered. Standing, she brushed her fingertips over the matted curls on his chest. Her fingers delved lightly into the black hair, sifted through it, stroked the hot skin beneath." This is after Ross learns Sophia’s secret and is angry because she lied again.

I would do more, but I think you get the point and there would be spoilers!

Other than that, the book was really good! The characters were different then any other series, the plot was interesting and the romance (for most of the book) was well developed.

Sophia was an interesting character. For the beginning part of the story, I felt that she was leading the plot. She was the reason the two met and she kinda controlled how she wanted the relationship to go. She has come from a very hard life. Taken out of the aristocracy and left to be a servant, she has owned up to her life to improve her conditions. She does not complain or act like a damsel. She is actually, a very strong role model because she does not rely on any man to get her out of the situation. Also, in the revenge plot, Sophia was an incredibly interesting character. Kleypas did an amazing job of fleshing out her character, motivates and thoughts. She not only became believable and relatable but a character to root behind. Another great thing is that she isn’t afraid of her sexuality. She uses it to capture Cannon (Sir Ross) and leads their relationship with it including into their relationship (as shown above). Watching her fall in love was by far the best part of the novel and the more interesting part in this relationship. It more interesting than Cannon falling in love. With her portrayal in the relationship, she wasn’t really someone to root behind. She was still a great heroine especially compared to Vivien, but she doesn’t hold up to the Wallflowers or Hathaway women.

If nothing else, just read three quarters of this book because that part is a five star read.

“There would not be a next time, Ross had vowed silently, annoyed beyond bearing to see someone else enjoying his meal. From then on, lunch in his office became a sacred ritual, and no one dared to interfere.
Sophia’s influence soon extended to more personal details of his life.”

Sir Ross, on the other hand, was pretty consistent from the previous and throughout the rest of the book. This is the first Kleypas hero that hasn’t slept with a multitude of women. It was an incredibly nice change of pace and reinforced that he wasn’t an alpha male. Of course he had his moments after they knew each other better, especially when the first looked at their new house, but he wasn’t domineering. He wore his heart on his sleeve, was trustworthy, never made Sophia feel inferior or anyone else for that matter. Cannon literally sacrificed his life so that he can improve someone else’s. He is the typical good guy that women want in their lives, and from the very beginning there is no doubt of his character. You know you married a good guy when he is willing to sacrifice part of himself so that he can save Sophia (I don’t mean in the typical sense).

The plot was really engaging, but more most of the story I think it was overshadowed by the romance. Overall, the book was a 4.5 read. Compared to the other book it should have been a five star, but the lack of fire in Sophia and the sometimes weird plot left something unfulfilled. It wasn’t a huge thing about this story and I enjoyed it for the most part. Can’t wait to read the next book!

Someone to Watch Over Me (Bow Street Runners #1)

Someone to Watch Over Me Summary:
Grant Morgan is one of London's most eligible and unattainable bachelors. He's also a powerful member of the Bow Street Runners, and when he's called to the waterfront late one night to investigate a drowning victim, Grant is stunned to recognize the face of Vivien Rose Duvall, a well-known woman of the night. He's even more startled when he realizes that she's alive. With no one to care for her, Grant carries Vivien to his home and revives her, only to learn that she is suffering from amnesia.

Vivien hesitantly accepts her handsome rescuer's claim that she is his mistress, despite her misgivings about her true identity. Nevertheless, she can't deny the marks on her throat that prove her near-drowning in the Thames was not an accident, and now she must trust the man who claims her as his paramour, for her life is in danger. As Grant searches for Vivien's attacker, the two find themselves falling in love, all the while struggling to stay one step ahead of the evil forces that will stop at nothing to see Vivien dead.

Someone to Watch Over Me Review:
This book wasn’t terrible but it is the first Lisa Kleypas story that didn’t draw me for almost 80% of the story. The story started off with an interesting idea and with a revenge plot that seemed to be interesting. It was a typical plot but Kleypas has managed to provoke emotion no matter what it was about. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work because the heroine is too docile while the hero is too domineering and revengeful. The saving grace came from the end when everything was tied up with a neat bow.

“What are you doing here?”
“You took too long,” he muttered with a scowl.
That statement brought a surprised laugh from her. “We agreed I would stay here a week.”
“It’s been a week.”
“It’s been precisely two and a half days,” she informed him.
“It seemed like a bloody year.”

There may be some spoilers below, so you have been warned.

As I said above, Grant is really vengeful. The only reason he wants to get revenge is because of some hurt pride. Vivien (the courtesan) was rejected by Grant, in turn she let out a rumor that she rejected him. Fast forward a couple months, everything is basically forgotten but Grant it still angry that someone got the better of him. So he decides that while she is healing from a near death injury (I consider it near death, because she did almost die) is going to seduce her…and that’s it. He seems nonredeemable but look at Harry from Tempt Me in Twilight or Sebastian from Devil in Winter, both nonredeemable until they were redeemed (a little redundant I know).

Where was the tender stranger who had taken care of her last night and this morning? She found it hard to believe that this was the man who had held and comforted her, rubbed salve on her bruises, and tucked her in bed as a parent would a beloved child. Now he seemed forbidding and utterly unapproachable. He was angry with her but she didn't know why. The realization made her feel more lost and confused than before, if that was possible. He was all she had--she couldn't bear for him to be cold to her. This is after she is fished out of the water with amnesia. Really acted like a total dick.

It took Sebastian and Harry about halfway through the book before you started to believe that they were different. As I was reading this book we moved swiftly past the halfway part, then past 60%, 70% and at 80% he does a complete reversal. We do seem him fall in love before this, but he accepts this mostly from her nearly dying (that’s a cliché) and the fact that she is not Vivian, she’s Victoria. Now he can pursue her in peace, without the constant reminder that she has had sex with other men. We do see him turn into a gentle man, which was great, but we needed to see more of that to believe in their love.

Vivien (she’s actually Victoria but for review purposes I’m leaving her called Vivien) on the other hand had almost no fire in her. The beginning made sense. She has just woken from a near death experience with amnesia. Discovering who she is surrounded by a man who keeps calling you a slut tends to leave you very weak. This brings me to a side point. Both Vivien and Grant look at prostitutes as if they are disgusting. Not just prostitutes, but any women who does not stay honorable to one man. It is not a bad to thing to sleep with more than one man nor is it a bad thing to be a prostitute. It does not allow for the treatment that Grant gave to Vivien.

And that view does not change very significantly by the end of the story.

Vivien's calmness evaporated as she was filled with a sense of utter betrayal. "You were the one solid thing in the world, the one person I could trust...and you've lied from the very beginning."
"Only about our supposed affair."
"Only?" she repeated, angry that he was trying to minimize his actions. "What if I had indeed been the real Vivien, and I were every bit as promiscuous and self-absorbed and unlikable as you expected? That doesn't excuse your behavior at all."

You would think after this, she would become all hot-headed and make him earn his love. Of course, she backs down after he kisses her. Anyways, the romance was there for the last 20% of the novel. It was sweet and showed the emotion that was lacking from the rest of the novel. The one thing I can say is that Kleypas always evokes some sort of emotion. It was not always the right type when it came to Someone to Watch Over Me, but it still made you feel strongly about the novel.

Overall, this is sub par book of three stars. The reason I bumped it up a star is because of two things. First, Sir Ross. He is the first man I have met in this story that didn’t turn out to be a womanizer. Instead he helps people with no ulterior motivation. He has created this “Empire” for the full benefit of others and he is still in love with his wife. His book is next and I can’t wait to read that! The second reason is the Bow Street Runners themselves. I got a history lesson that was incredibly interesting. It is not in the book, but the book led me to continue reading about them online.

To Have and To Hold (The Wedding Belles #1)

To Have and To Hold Summary:
Discovering her fiance is an international con man just moments before they exchange vows devastates celebrity wedding planner Brooke Baldwin's business—and breaks her heart. Now a pariah in Los Angeles, she seeks a fresh start in New York City and thinks she’s found it with her first bridal client, a sweet—if slightly spoiled—hotel heiress. Then she meets the uptight businessman who’s holding the purse strings.

Seth Tyler wishes he could write a blank check and be done with his sister Maya's fancy-pants wedding. Unfortunately, micromanaging the event is his only chance at proving Maya’s fiance is a liar. Standing directly in his way is the stunning blonde wedding planner whose practiced smiles and sassy comebacks both irritate and arouse him. He needs Brooke’s help. But can he persuade a wedding planner on a comeback mission to unplan a wedding? And more importantly, how will he convince her that the wedding she should be planning... is theirs?

To Have and To Hold Review: 


This book captivated me from the beginning. With Seth’s sarcastic internal thoughts, how could it not!

"Seth blink. It wasn't? Six months seemed like a hell of along time to him, but then he wasn't the one who'd been marrying off the family dog when he was. What did he know?"

Lauren Layne is an author I have been wishing to read because of her Stilettos and Oxford series. Looking at titles, I was ecstatic to see To Have and To Hold in Netgalley and thought it was a great way to see how Layne writes. I also looked at the reviews of others and was a little disheartened because there were a lot of review lower than three stars. I still read the book with an open mind and it turned out to be an amazing read. It wasn’t an instant success as there were small problems, but I didn’t agree with popular opinion that it wasn’t a good first book. Another good thing to note is that this is the first book in a series which means that it is going to be a bit rough as the offer discovers how to write the series.

Both main characters were interesting and drew you into their story. Seth and Brooke each had their own demons to face, yet the had some common ground. This made the story that much more captivating and fascinating to read as the two characters were almost a foil of each other. This was due to them having incredibly different ways of dealing with their issues. The two of them brought just enough angst and emotion to make the story real. And don’t get dissuaded by the cover or title. This story does not end in some sappy wedding but in a realistic conclusion for two people who have been hurt.

"'All the way, Mr. Tyler. I'm thinking I love you all the way.'"
Seth pushed her back onto the bed with a wicked, happy grin. "'Prove it.'"
And Brooke did. She definitely did."

Their love/hate relationship was nice to read about. I keep comparing it to the relationships from the Wallflowers or the Hathaways by Lisa Kleypas, and this kind of falls short. I understand that each couple will banter in different ways but some of their fights had a little too much angst. Yet most of their interactions were humour filled, sometimes showing very vulnerable side. That was done very well because it didn’t come as over the top.

Seth linked his fingers in hers. “Take me home, Baldwin.”
She laughed. “You know, for such a rich, savvy guy, you can be a total dork.”
“I like to think it reveals my vulnerable side.”
She glanced up at him suspiciously. “Do you have a vulnerable side?”
“I do. Her name is Brooke.”

Seth was a lonely, distant sweetheart. He won me over in an instant because of the love he had for his sister. It shone through in everything that she did and explained some of his not so good choices. I didn’t agree with his methods, but I understand why he did it. Also, it showed that he was willing to change to strengthen any connections.

“Anyways, I know I’m being controlling. I know that’s a problem of mind, and it will problem of mine, and it will probably always be a problem of mine, but I’m working on it. I swear that I am.”

Brooke was easier to connect with at first but her constant emotional issues dimmed my view of her. She went from being really tough to over the top or whiny (at times). She created so many problems over and over again, it took away from their development. Though, closer to the end she pulled through to fit for her love and to own her life. It was a great way to end of this book.

Maya and Grant were great to read about. They were a really cute couple and from the beginning you rooted for their success. And even after discovering what Seth did, Maya didn’t turn her back on him. She let him know how she felt but stayed open to his side. It was weird to see her react less than Brooke when the secret came out.

“She shook her head and stood. 'I know you love me, Seth. I know it’s why you did that. I know that. I’m not going to say I’m not a tiny bit pissed, but honestly...I want to say thank you. For caring, even if you do in a horribly invasive way.’”

I’m slowly liking the Just Romance genre. It has no action, and a very simplistic formula, the allure of a happy and every-day ending is a great read. Overall this is a four star read! I added another star for the excerpt because it was hilarious! So technically, this entire book is a five star read.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tiffany McDaniel Q&A!

Below is a Q&A I had with the debut author Tiffany Mcdaniel! Her debut novel is the Summer That Melted Everything. The review I did for that is already up as the previous post. I hope you enjoy what I have below and highly recommend that you read this book!

1. What prompted you to become an author?
Nothing really prompted me to become an author. Writing is the first thing I remember doing as a child outside of any external direction or influence. It’s just something inside me, as it is inside every author, that internal gear that drives us to put words on the page. I’ve always known I have to have story around me. Reading it, creating it, living with it. Writing is my bliss. It is my chaos. It is my perfect and imperfect everything. It is the thing that makes me. Without writing, I don’t exist.

2. How did you become an author?
How I became a published author was after an eleven year struggle to get published. I wrote my first novel when I was eighteen. I wouldn’t get a publishing contract until I was twenty-nine. The road to publication for me was full of heart-ache and fear I’d never be published. I was told I never would be. I was told The Summer that Melted Everything would never sell. I know I’m so fortunate to be in the position I am now, about to see my book on the shelf for the first time. I feel for those authors still on the publishing journey. To them I say never give up. You will be published one day. Believe it. That rocket ship to the stars is waiting on you. Never give up.

3. How did you come up with this idea?
The novel started first as a title. It was one of those Ohio summers that I felt like I was melting. I always start writing a new novel with two things. The title and the first line. These two things lead the rest of the story. I never outline or pre-plan, so the idea is never fully-formed when I began writing. As the author, I even surprise myself where the story goes.

4. Are the views of main characters in your story a representation of your views?
I always like to keep my views out of it, just because I think that could start to compete with the characters and their views. You can always find something of the author in what has been written, but for me my characters feel like real people of their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

5. If you have to pick your favourite character, who would it be and why?
I love all of them, so I can’t pick my favorite, but I will say one of my favorite characters to write was Sal. He’s the one come to answer the invitation to the devil. He was so interesting to write because I was in essence writing dialogue for the fallen angel himself. I had to get a Lucifer twang and a Satan speak. It’s not often you get to do that.

6. What future books do you have planned?
I have eight completed novels, and am currently working on my ninth. The novel I’m hoping to follow The Summer that Melted Everything up with is When Lions Stood as Men. It’s about a Jewish brother and sister who escape Nazi Germany, cross the Atlantic, and end up in my land of Ohio. While here, they struggle to survive their guilt of escaping Germany so they create their own camp of judgment where they serve as both the guards and the inmates. It’s an unusual story of love and how guilt can imprison us until it feels like we can never escape.

7. What is your schedule for writing?
I don’t have a schedule for writing. It really does depend on life itself. Sometimes I write during the day. Sometimes I write during the night. I never aim for a specific word count or page number. I like to just allow the story to come on its own. I’ve said before it’s like turning on the porch light and waiting for the moths to come. It’s about being quiet enough to listen to the chatter of the moths, to translate that chatter, but never intrude upon it or force more of it.

8. What does your family think of your writing?
My mother, Betty, and my older sister, Jennifer, have read every draft of The Summer that Melted Everything from the beginning. In fact they’ve read everything I’ve ever written. They’re biased in their opinion because I’m their daughter and sister, but I like to think they would like my writing even if I wasn’t related to them.

9. If you have to pick a favorite book, which book would it be?
That’s hard because there are so many beautiful books out there. I will say I love Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine. Anything written by Bradbury has stunning verse, and this is a story in which his talents as an author are truly showcased. The story itself is one I immediately fell in love with. I’ve re-read it several times. I want to be buried with this novel so I may carry it into the afterlife and find a nice spot on a cloud and read it all over again.

10. What was your motivation for writing this story?
I always say I’m inspired by the characters themselves. I’m inspired by them to tell their story as honestly as I can. To give them the best beginning, middle, and end as possible. I owe that to the characters. I owe it to the readers to write a story they can feel good about spending their time and hard-earned money on.

11. Is Sal really the devil?
I think this a question readers themselves will ask after reading the novel. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say the devil in The Summer that Melted Everything is not the stereotypical red-flesh, horned devil found in our nightmares. We have to open our eyes to see for ourselves who the true devils are among us.

12. What would you say to someone who would to live in Ohio? What is the best thing about it?
Well, I was born and raised in Ohio. In every way, my writing is shaped by the landscape I come from. I would be a completely different author if I had come from a different land. That’s true for every author. Our origins carve our verse in deep ways we will never truly know. I’d say for me the best thing about Ohio is that it is where my family and my memories are. It is the land that has molded me. I have risen with its hills and rolled with its waters. Perhaps in another life I stalked beneath the buckeye trees as a true native. Perhaps not. But I feel that connection to the land, as only someone who is born from it can. I’m not saying I’ll never leave Ohio. But even if I do, I will still have never left.

Thank you Tiffany McDaniel for doing this amazing interview! Remember to check out her new book The Summer That Melted Everything which is being released today. I highly recommend it to anyone!