Related Book: To Tempt A Scotsman (hero’s sister)

Product Description: Raised by a titled, yet degenerate, father, Emma Jensen never imagined the gambling lessons she learned as a child would one day serve her well. When she finds herself in dire need of money, she concocts the alias of Dowager Lady Denmore and sets off to bewitch London’s noblemen by engaging them in games of chance. The fact that respectable ladies do not gamble does not intimidate her in the least. But the darkly handsome Duke of Somerhart does – for he’s awakened a deep, sensual hunger in her…The dashing Duke of Somerhart has the notorious reputation of being one of London’s most incurable rogues. When he meets the alluring Lady Denmore, he is immediately intrigued. Her recklessness and innocence intertwined titillates him as no other woman ever has. But what secret is the lovely Lady Denmore hiding? He’s determined to find out. But first he must seduce her until she surrenders completely to his most wicked desires…

My Review: Color me biased but since I’m not that experienced, I prefer the same qualities in my heroines. When I read that Emma’s a widow, I almost didn’t read it. Thankfully, I gave it a try. And thankfully, she was only a widow in disguise (that’s not a spoiler since it’s revealed really early in the book).

I was content to read this as a B-rating book, you know, not much of a tearjerker but pleasant enough, but I was quite surprised that it turned out to be more…romantic in the end. This book definitely made me a fan of Victoria Dahl.

Rating: 8.5/10

I’m honestly aghast that I haven’t read any of her works till now and she’s been writing for such a long time already. But no matter. Now that I know her, I’m not wasting time and I’m doing my best to look for as many books or ebooks of hers as possible.

Summary: When Lady Anne Sinclair vowed to marry before her spoilt beauty of a sister, she had no idea the “anyone” would be the Marquess of Torrance. Long the darling of the town–and considered quite the confirmed bachelor–he succumbed to Annie’s charms and, almost magically, made her his wife. But Annie’s lifelong battle for attention had ill-prepared her for married life. In a tipsy reverie on her wedding night, she blurted out her real reason for marrying the Marquess–and her husband’s formidable pride shut the door on any further communication. Only a crisis of major proportions could bring the headstrong newlyweds together. And no less than the chancellor of the exchequer, with sinister political ambitions known only to himself, embroiled Annie in a dangerous plot that taught her the truth about her wifely sentiments.

This is my favorite of all her books by far (I’ve read four). I love, love the Marquess. He reminds me of one of Balogh’s heroes but I’m hard pressed to remember his name. He’s cool and mature and absolutely adorable. Lady Anne is a unique heroine, with an irresitible combinaton of feistiness and (non-irritating) silliness, and I love her almost as much as I do the Marquess. She’s more imperfect than many heroines but then, that’s what also makes her utterly lovable.

Chesney’s voice is conservative but elegant. I can think of no other way to describe it than that. Her characters are more accurate in terms of attitude compared to those of other Regency romances, and normally, I’d expect that to be a hindrance – it just wouldn’t be fun to read in the eyes of a vaporous twit, right? – but no, she does it in such a way that you’d appreciate the story more.

My only complaint is that there are too little scenes of intimacy…sniff…but then again, I think that’s deliberate on Chesney’s part and in keeping with the Regency theme. All in all, however, I give this my wholehearted recommendation! One page was all it took and I’m forever a fan of Marion Chesney.

Rating: 10/10

Summary: The story starts off with James, a wealthy ship captain, claiming victory against pirate captain Sharkee. He kills the pirate, captures his ships, and ends up with more than he’s bargained for – Jem, a young lad who turns out to be Annie, the pirate captain’s innocent (but foul-mouthed) daughter. James makes Annie play the role as his cabin boy to protect her virtue while teaching her how to be lady at night…but that can be difficult when James desire her and Annie feels the same even without knowing it.

Two people locked in a cabin…you know what to expect, don’t you? Annie’s naivete is silly but charming. I can only pity James in the times she so explicitly describes bodily reactions. The ending was quite nice – not a tearjerker but still quite sweet.

Sensuality Meter: High
Rating: 8.5/10

Summary: Francis Courtenay is a duke – gorgeous but impoverished, allegedly wicked but a hero in the heroine’s eyes. The heroine here is Vanessa Tremaine, a young beautiful woman who ran away from home because her cousin has been pressuring her to marry him. She ends up in Francis’ company and later on, becomes her ward. But soon, Vanessa wants more and she feels there’s reason to hope that the duke may want more from her, too.

Blythe writes beautifully and the way the relationship between the two develops may be a tad slow but quite fitting with the story. The level of poignancy here is equal to but different from what you’d expect from a Mary Balogh regency.

I initially read from an Amazon reviewer that this, together with the Parfit Knight, were the only works of Blyth but apparently, she makes use of other names to write so that means we can look forward to other books from this wonderful author.

Sensuality Meter: Low
Rating: 10/10

Summary: David Kyle, the Earl of Wraybourne, has a fiancee and everyone only learned of it upon reading the announcement in the papers. Even his family had never met her. David is a handsome man, courtly, sophisticated, intelligent, wealthy in his own right, and all in all, he’s really everything a man could aspire to be.

His fiancee is Jane, the Sandiford heiress, one who had led a very sheltered life. Jane thinks David is marrying her for money. She’s also never been in the company of men except her father and these two factors make Jane doubt David’s feelings for her.

Apparently, this is Jo Beverly’s first book and frankly, I didn’t think it was as bad as some people say it is. The story’s pace is slower than one may be used to, but JB has always been like that because she plays strictly by the rules (of the Regency period, I mean). I, personally, love David Kyle here. Yes, he’s no Alpha male – it must be my age – but he’s no wimp either.

All in all, a good relaxing read.

Sensuality Meter: Low
Rating: 8.5/10

Summary: Gil Gilliland is a friend–nothing more–to his childhood chum, Chloe. But Gil’s mother sees more to their bond. And in a case of mother knows best, what seems a tender trap may free two stubborn hearts.

That’s the official book description, but since I’m sure readers would need more details, Chloe is a beautiful vivacious girl, quite content with her simple life managing her estate – one she inherited from her wealthy merchant grandfather. Her father, a peer, is a mean bully, cruel to Chloe because he hates the fact that he has to ask money from his daughter.

Unexpected circumstances make Gil and Chloe end up betrothed. It’s an engagement neither wants…or so they think.

It’s quite a sweet read. It’s always nice to have childhood sweethearts end up together. There are also two secondary characters that will get their love story told in the side and that one is sweet, too.

Sensuality Meter: Low
Rating: 8/10

Summary: Libby may be a poor relation, but it’s entirely her choice to don the role when her wealthy uncle is more than willing to give her a better life. And then a chocolate-selling merchant – gorgeous, suave, and alcoholic – sweeps into her life.

But wait…there’s more! You didn’t really think that was all, did you? The story actually started with the Duke of Knaresborough, contemplating the idea of taking a wife, as he’s being nagged by his sister to do so. In several twists of fate, the Duke ends up posing as a chocolate merchant and mistakes Libby as her heiress cousin. To make it a love triangle, there’s also the good doctor on the side, handsome, gentle, stocky (that’s how I see him) and clumsy, with his spectacles perpetually falling off his nose.

*SPOILER*
If you like happy endings with rich heroes, this is not the book for you and from that you can very well conclude who won Libby’s heart.

Sensuality Meter: Little
Rating: 8/10

Summary: Forced to accompany her beautiful but vain, self-centered sister to London for the season, Mary Seabrook, intelligent, artistic, and shy, escapes from the social scene whenever she can. But when a flight from a lecherous rake lands her behind a potted palm and she is suddenly joined by a man with an even more disreputable past, her life becomes far more interesting and far more dangerous than she had ever expected. Two well-matched, sympathetic protagonists join forces to outwit a would-be murderer and foil a debauched villain in this lively, well-crafted story that also offers an insightful look at the realities of Regency life with a few surprising twists.
- The Library Journal, Amazon.com

Regency romances are something you either hate or love, especially when they’re written with characters that act properly – according to their time, that is – but this one might just be something that most people will love.

Lord Grayson here is no Alpha male but surprisingly enough, I like him a lot. Very much manly in his own way. And Mary here is adorable in her independent ways. I got into a Regency craze in the past week or so and I read quite a lot, but this one stood in my mind.

Sensuality Meter: little to moderate
Rating: 8.5/10

When the original Knight series, the London-based ones, ended, I felt pretty much bereft but then I was heartened when Foley announced in her website that she had another set of Knight books to produce. This time, it would feature the other Knight branch in the West Indies.

The first of the series, Her Only Desire, featured the Knights’ baby sister, Georgie, together with Ian Griffith – yeah, the marquis. Her Secret Fantasy was for Derek and then finally, Her Every Pleasure is about Derek’s twin Gabriel.

I have to admit, this is my favorite in the trilogy. Both hero and heroine are amazing and adorable. Gabriel’s gallantry is charming and never fake while Princess Sophia acts exactly the way you would expect of a princess in hiding.

SUMMARY: From the glittering ballrooms of Regency England to the sapphire waters of the Mediterranean, the dazzling finale of Gaelen Foley’s Spice trilogy unfurls the passionate tale of a rebel princess and the powerful warrior destined to become her champion.

Princess Sophia was only a child when Napoleon conquered the island paradise ruled by her father. Raised in England and now twenty-one, she means to claim the throne that is rightfully hers and bring peace to her war-torn land. But an ambush by enemies forces Sophia into hiding outside London. Disguising herself as a peasant girl until she can safely return, she meets Major Gabriel Knight, a wounded warrior whose brush with death has utterly changed him.

Heir to a great fortune, and a master swordsman, Gabriel has given up his worldly possessions and laid down his arms. Sophia is fascinated by his brooding magnetism, and Gabriel, lured by her fiery beauty and healed by her touch, is drawn back inexorably toward the world of the living.

But when Sophia’s royal destiny is revealed, Gabriel knows he must take up his sword again, whatever the cost, to protect his princess from those who would destroy her. And as longing blossoms into passion, Gabriel discovers the one cause that is truly worth fighting for. . . .

My favorite scenes were Gabriel and his lady acting naughty inside the carriage, and when Gabe and the princess were reunited. If you’ve never given any of the Knight books a try, this one will convince you to do so!

Rating: 10/10

I’m back.

The Untamed Heiress – Julia Justiss

The book cover’s something like what you’d more expect from a mystery novel, something like Agatha Christie in the Regency, but you know what they say – never judge a book by its cover. And thank God I didn’t.

But then I read the summary, and I almost didn’t read it again.

UNTUTORED, UNTOUCHED, UNTIL…

Imprisoned as a child by her spiteful father, Helena Lambarth vowed upon
his death to never again live under a man’s rule. But to honor her mother’s
last wish, she journeys to London to enter society— and finds herself a
reluctant houseguest of the dashing Lord Darnell.

Adam, Lord Darnell, has little time to oversee the bedraggled hoyden he’s
agreed to sponsor. Saddled with his father’s debts, he knows his one hope
is to win the hand of wealthy Priscilla Standish. If only she weren’t so
ordinary compared to the unconventional Helena— and if only his waiflike
ward hadn’t suddenly transformed into a bewitching young woman…

The desire they spark in each other is undeniable. But can the love they try
to resist conquer Helena’s demons and free them both?

Why, why, why do they have to tell us he’s poor? I hate poor heroes. I mean, remember, I’m reading this for some fantasy time. But I still tried reading it anyway and thank God I did. Her hero reminds me of the beloved Signet heroes of Mary Balogh. Both Helena and Adam here are lovable! Kudos to this writer – this is the first book I’ve read from her, and it has successfully converted me to being one of her fans.