The Sum of All Kisses - Julia Quinn (Avon - Nov 2013)

Series: Smythe-Smith Quartet (Book 3)

He thinks she's an annoying know-it-all

Hugh Prentice has never had patience for dramatic females, and if Lady Sarah Pleinsworth has ever been acquainted with the words shy or retiring, she's long since tossed them out the window. Besides, even if Hugh did grow to enjoy her company, it wouldn't matter. A reckless duel has left this brilliant mathematician with a ruined leg, and now, unable to run, ride, or even waltz, he could never court a woman like Sarah, much less dream of marrying her.

She thinks he's just plain mad

Sarah has never forgiven Hugh for the duel he fought three years earlier, the one that forced her cousin into exile, nearly destroying her family. But even if she could find a way to forgive him, it wouldn't matter. She doesn't care that his leg is less than perfect, it's his personality she can't abide. But when the pair is forced to spend a week in close company, they discover that first impressions are not always reliable. And when one kiss leads to two, three, and four, the mathematician may lose count, and the lady may, for the first time, find herself speechless.

Very good book. It starts out with neither character being particularly likable. Hugh has gotten himself into a really stupid duel. He and Daniel had both had too much to drink when they argued over a card game. Normally the best of friends, neither would back down once they sobered up. When Hugh actually shot Daniel (unintentionally) and Daniel shot back, Hugh ended up with a badly injured leg and Daniel exiled from England because of Hugh's father. Three years later Hugh and Daniel are friends again, but Hugh is still bitter about what happened and blames himself for his stupidity. Sarah is a young woman who tends toward the melodramatic. She blames Hugh for the years that Daniel was away and the shame it brought to the family. When she meets Hugh face to face, she really goes off on him, saying quite a few nasty things to him. She would love to avoid him completely but that isn't going to happen. There are two family weddings happening in a three week period, both of which Hugh has been invited to. One of the brides is worried that Hugh will not feel welcome and asks Sarah to take care of Hugh. She knows that they don't get along, but she does it anyway. 

At this point Hugh and Sarah start to grow on me. The two of them can't seem to say a nice thing to each other, but also find themselves fascinated. I feel for Hugh. He is in nearly constant pain because of his leg. He is also somewhat socially inept. He is a brilliant mathematician but those skills don't help him conversationally as he tends to simply say what he thinks. He also hates not being able to do the things he used to do and feels like he is not a whole man because of it. Sarah tends to be overly dramatic and a bit shrewish, but she does love her family. She's not thrilled to be stuck with Hugh, but she'll do it to make her cousin happy.

As they are stuck in each other's company, Hugh and Sarah start out with their usual bickering. But once they realize that are going to have to get along for the foreseeable future, they call a truce. This allows them to begin to get to know each other. Hugh discovers that he likes Sarah's honesty and forthright nature. Her family is something completely outside his experience and he fascinated by them. I loved the way he related to Sarah's youngest sister Frances. The way he treated Frances went a long way toward improving Sarah's view of him. He also discovered that he was attracted to Sarah in a way that he hadn't been with any woman since the duel. He is also surprised to find that his injury doesn't seem to matter to her. Sarah spends the first part of the book thinking mainly of how the duel affected her family and she herself. It isn't until she spends time with Hugh that she starts to think about the effect it has had on him. When she sprains her ankle she begins to gain an small appreciation of what his life is like. I loved seeing the way that her attitude began to change as she got to know him. She began to like spending time with him and looking forward to their encounters. I really liked the way that his injury didn't make any difference to the way she felt about him. I also enjoyed seeing her stand up for him to others. 

The development of their feelings for each other was quite nice. Once their antipathy was overcome they were surprised to discover how much they liked each other. Hugh's biggest difficulty was the lack of self confidence he had because of his injury. It was fun to see his reaction to Sarah's attitude toward it. I also enjoyed the softening of Sarah's personality as her feelings for Hugh made her more empathetic to others. Things were going along great for them until Hugh's father showed up. He is a horrible man and the things he said and did to Hugh were unforgivable. One of the best scenes in the book comes when Sarah faces him down in order to get what she wants. Her strength there was fantastic. I loved the way it was then followed by showing the love she had for him and the softness she could show because of it. 

Dicing with the Dangerous Lord - Margaret McPhee (HH #1125 - Feb 2013)

Series: Gentlemen of Disrepute (Book 4)

SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY

Venetia Fox is London's most sought-after actress, darling of the demimonde and every nobleman's desire. But she's about to face her toughest role yet -- seducing a confession from the devilishly handsome and very dangerous Lord Linwood to bring her father's murderer to justice.

She might have the whole of London fooled, but Linwood can see through Venetia's ardent attempts to persuade him to open up. His past is murky, but he's no criminal. Her interest in him has Linwood intrigued -- he might just have to play Miss Fox at her own seductive game….

Good book. Venetia is on a mission. She needs to get close to Linwood and find a way to get the information she needs to accuse him of her father's murder. As a skilled actress it shouldn't be too difficult. She doesn't plan on the intense attraction she feels for him when they meet in person. Linwood can tell that she's up to something, he just doesn't know what it is. But he's willing to go along with it to find out.

I liked both Venetia and Linwood. She is a very strong and determined woman. Following her half brother's instructions she plans to get to know Linwood well enough for him to talk about what he had done. From the beginning she has her assumptions about his character, but when she meets him there is a connection she doesn't understand. How can she be attracted to the man who killed her father? There are times that she can see the ruthless, dangerous man she's been told about, but at others he's unexpectedly caring and compassionate. The closer she gets to him the more conflicted she is. Sometimes she's certain he's innocent of the accusations, but then something will happen to make her doubt. As the days go on, her heart gets more involved. She has secrets that make any chance of a relationship with him very complicated.

Linwood is a man who is very calm and controlled on the surface. That calmness is tested when he meets Venetia. He can see her interest in him, but he also feels that there is more to it than just attraction. So he's willing to play along until he can find out what it is. The more time he spends with her, the more he discovers that she is very different than what most people see. The seductive actress is still there, but underneath he discovers a kindhearted and caring woman. He finds himself more and more fascinated by her. Finding out what she's looking for puts them at odds, because he has secrets of his own he has to keep.

The mystery in this story was quite well done. It is a continuation of the book His Mask of Retribution. Venetia has been given this mission by her half brother who is the one who says there is a witness to Linwood leaving the house after the duke's death. While she didn't like her father at all because of how he treated people, he was still her father. Linwood knows what happened that night but in order to protect others he will say nothing in order to protect others. There are various clues along the way that all may not be exactly as it seems. There are several interesting twists before the truth is revealed.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship as it builds slowly. Both fight their feelings as they try to reconcile them with what they think they know about the other. I will say that I got very angry at Venetia toward the end when she did something incredibly terrible to Linwood. She allows her faith in him to be shaken twice, though at least the second time she actually waited for an explanation. She does come through for him when he needs her most.

His Mistress by Christmas - Victoria Alexander (Zebra - Sept 2012)

Series: Sinful Family Secrets (Book 2)

For three years, Lady Veronica Smithson has been perfectly happy as a widow -- and thoroughly independent. Still, the right gentleman could provide the benefits of marriage without the tedious restrictions. And in Sir Sebastian Hadley-Attwater, renowned explorer and rogue, Veronica is sure she has found him.

Sebastian will come into his inheritance in a matter of weeks -- if his family deems him responsible enough. There's no better way to prove his maturity than with a wife. But though Veronica will share his bed, she refuses to marry. However, Sebastian has a plan: An intimate sojourn at his new country house will surely change Veronica's mind. For Sebastian never takes no for an answer. And he intends to persuade his Christmas mistress that they belong together -- in this, and every season to come...

What a fun book. Both Veronica and Sebastian find themselves at crossroads in their lives. They meet at the intersection and decide that they'd like to continue together. The problem is that they are looking down different roads. Both of them are accustomed to getting what they want and seeing them each try to convince the other makes for a really fun time.

Veronica has been a widow for three years. She had loved her husband and they had a good life together, but she's ready to move on. She's gotten used to being independent and having control of her own life. She's not interested in marrying and turning that control over to a man. But she admits to being lonely for the company of a man and decides to look for one that can provide what she wants. When she meets Sebastian, she thinks he would be perfect for her. After all, he's known as quite the ladies' man and has shown no signs of wanting to settle down.

Sebastian is almost thirty-three years old. He has been traveling the world for quite a few years and has made quite a name for himself with his explorations and the books he has written, is good looking and wealthy too. But he's getting a little tired of living out of his trunks and is looking to spend more time at home. He has bought a house and is thinking that it might also be time to start looking for a wife. When he sees Veronica at one of his lectures he is lost. She is exactly what he is looking for. Besides being beautiful, she is intelligent and has a sense of humor to match his own. He also senses that she is just as interested in him. He's so sure of where they are that he tells his sisters he expects to be married by Christmas.

But things don't quite go as he planned. When he proposes to Veronica he is stunned to find out she doesn't want to marry him, only be his mistress. That's not what he wants and he refuses to accept defeat. So he invites her to spend Christmas at his new home, as his mistress, but has every intention of convincing her to be his wife instead. 

I loved the two of them together. They are smart, they like many of the same things, and they both have a great sense of fun. Some of their conversations are hilariously funny as are their observations of the people and events around them. Sebastian loves Veronica just the way she is, independence and direct speech and all. He doesn't understand why she is so against marriage. Veronica enjoys being able to be herself. She fears that by marrying that sense of self would be lost under the expectations of what a wife should be. She intends that as a mistress she would have all the benefits of being a wife without the pitfalls. And she doesn't intend to allow herself to fall in love with Sebastian as she sees that as the first step to that loss of self. 

When they get to his home and start to settle in things are looking good for them to start working on their differences. Then things get really complicated. Sebastian's two sisters show up, uninvited, to spend Christmas with Sebastian and his new wife, only to discover they aren't married. They are horrified, not just because of the circumstances, but also because they told the rest of the family about his "marriage" and they are ALL coming for Christmas. Sebastian has been trying to show his older brothers that he has changed and become a mature and responsible man. He has always felt that he was a disappointment to his family because he has not led a more traditional life. Now, thanks to his sisters, he's going to look even worse. He and his sisters try to keep them from finding out, but don't tell Veronica that the family thinks they are married. When she finds out the truth she isn't happy, but she cares for Sebastian (still doesn't admit to herself that she loves him) so she goes along with the deception for now. Things get even crazier when her family shows up.

In the midst of all the family togetherness, as she is treated as Sebastian's wife, Veronica begins to realize that all that independence also has a downside. It means that she could still end up alone. It means giving up on the idea of having children. It means that she could lose Sebastian to someone else. A long conversation with her father, aunt and grandmother shows her that independence can also mean great loneliness and she starts to reconsider her stance on marriage. Just as it looks like things will finally work out for them, there is a great misunderstanding about Sebastian's inheritance, which sends Veronica running back to London. Though initially both are hurt and angry, I loved that their heads and their hearts soon show them that they belong together. I loved the final scene at the birthday dinner and Veronica's passionate defense of Sebastian to his family and the resulting clearing up of many misconceptions among them all.

Some of my favorite things in the book are the situations that the characters get into. The scene at the beginning when Sebastian has been cornered by Veronica's aunt about allowing women in the Explorer's Club was fun, as he tried to be polite in his disagreement, and then to sneak away as she got involved in the argument with another member. His encounter with Veronica there was the beginning of their fascination with each other. The entire Christmas event, with all the efforts to keep the secret was at times hilariously funny or totally sweet. The whole scene with Veronica and her family was heartwarming as so many things became clear to her, and her family's love and support boosted her up. One of my favorite scenes was Christmas Eve when Sebastian goes knocking on her door after spending the evening drinking. He was so funny and so adorable. There are also some great scenes with Veronica's friend Portia and also with Sebastian's friend Sinclair. I really hope that there will be books for them and also Sebastian's sister Bianca.

A Bride for the Black Sheep Brother - Emily McKay (HD #2309 - June 2014)

Series: At Cain's Command (Book 3)

Courted by a Cain

Cooper Larson doesn't care about finding Hollister Cain's long-lost daughter, even though a huge inheritance hangs in the balance. As Hollister's illegitimate son, the renegade snowboarder broke away and made his own millions long ago. So when his former sister-in-law Portia Callahan insists she's spotted the missing Cain heiress and solicits his aid, it isn't money that motivates him. It's his long-forbidden hunger for Portia. So he agrees to help if she'll collaborate on an event to finance his latest venture. With Portia finally within reach, he quickly melts the cool society princess's resistance...but will the barriers that kept him a black sheep before get the better of him now?

Portia was married to Dalton Cain for ten years. Even though they are divorced now, she is still friends with the family. She is also aware of the search for the missing illegitimate daughter. When she sees a girl she thinks could be the missing heiress, she goes to Cooper for help in finding her. She figures that he would be the right person to help the girl adjust to the news.  Cooper really doesn't care whether the girl is found or not. He's made his own life separate from the Cains and is happy that way. The only thing he ever wanted from them had already belonged to Dalton. When Portia comes to him for help, he sees it as the perfect opportunity to feed that hunger, so he proposes a trade of her help for his.

I liked both Cooper and Portia. He had been attracted to Portia since before she married Dalton, and dealt with it by avoiding being around her during her marriage. Now that she has come to him, he looks on it as a chance to have what he had wanted for so long. He has never committed to anyone for longer than a couple months and figures this will be the same type of short but intense affair. He doesn't expect to find himself wanting more than just the physical connection. But while she's off working on his project all the contact they have is by phone and he discovers just how easy she is to talk to. He finds himself thinking about her more often and wanting to be with her instead of doing the work he loves. The level of intensity scares him because he had seen the same thing in his mother's feelings for his father and it had only brought her a lifetime of misery. He also doesn't see himself as good enough for her.  He fights the idea of falling for her but it's a losing battle. Portia also forces him to face his feelings about his family. He's always kept himself apart from his brothers, never feeling like he fit in. She makes him see that he needs them in his life. I loved seeing Dalton be the one to show Cooper the error of his ways regarding Portia.

Portia is a sensitive and caring woman that can be impulsive too. She tries very hard to control that weakness. But when she see a girl that looks enough like the Cains that she's sure she is the missing heiress she wants to find her. She also wants the girl protected because she knows that trying to fit in with that family is difficult. She thinks that Cooper is the best one to help because he started as an outsider also. The only way she can convince him to help is to help him sell his hotel project. She doesn't expect the intense attraction that hits her and tries to fight it. Being with the man who was her brother-in-law at one time seems a little weird to her, but she can't deny her growing feelings for him. She had only agreed to a short term no strings fling with him and realizes that to continue that way will only make her miserable. I liked seeing her stand firm on what she wanted for her life.

I loved the ending and seeing Cooper finally open up to Portia about his feelings. Her love for him is already having an effect on his outlook. There was a little bit included in what he said about his mother that pertained to the search for his sister. It's still left hanging, so I hope the sister's book comes out soon. After that little glimpse of her at the beginning of the book I really want to know her story.

A Sinful Seduction - Elizabeth Lane (HD #2310 - June 2014)

A man with a plan...for revenge

East Africa is the last place philanthropist Cal Jeffords expected to find glamorous Megan Rafferty, his best friend's widow. Now that he's tracked her down--she's been working as a volunteer nurse for his own foundation--he'll stop at nothing to get answers...including getting her into bed. When he finds out what happened to the millions she embezzled from the charity, he'll make her pay.

Megan does have something she's hiding, but it's not what Cal thinks. Ultimately, the truth will make it impossible for him to see their African adventure as a simple seduction--and to let her go.

Two years earlier Cal's best friend had committed suicide after millions of dollars disappeared from the foundation's accounts. Right after the funeral Nick's wife Megan disappeared, and Cal has been looking for her ever since. He is certain that she knows what happened and that she has the money, and he is determined to hold her accountable. He doesn't expect to find her working as a volunteer nurse in the worst parts of Africa.

Megan isn't surprised when Cal finds her. She knows what he believes and that nothing she can say will convince him otherwise. All she wants to do is to help the people around her. The last six months have been rough after she witnessed some horrific things. She has nightmares and panic attacks and has lost a lot of weight. She's not happy when he conspires with the doctor at her refugee camp to take her away for ten days for forced relaxation. She's sure it's just a ruse to badger her about the same old things.

I found Megan to be an incredibly strong woman. From surviving the misery of her marriage to the things she's experienced in Africa, she fights for everything she gets. Cal's arrival shakes her up because she knows she can't give him what he's looking for, as much as she would like to. She also found herself attracted to him, but her fears stop her from being able to pursue it. The more time she spends with him, though, the more she starts to care and want to overcome those fears.

Cal had focused on Megan as being guilty because he hadn't trusted her from the beginning. He always felt that she was hiding something, and when she fled that just convinced him all the more. But when he tracked her down in Africa she seemed completely different than the woman he remembered. He feels that the only way to get to the truth is to get her to trust him. He takes her away on a photo safari and tries to get to the truth. He still feels that she is hiding something, but his attraction to her creates some confusion and conflict. 

When Cal discovers the truth behind her nightmares and panic attacks he is horrified. His protective instincts have been growing stronger the more he's gotten to know Megan. His feelings begin to change and grow. He starts to suspect that his friend wasn't blameless after all, but before he can talk to Megan about it she discovers that he still hadn't given up on his search. She flees back to her refugee camp. There are a few twists and turns before each of them realizes what is most important and they find their way back to each other.

I loved the setting of the book also. The heartbreak of the camps was realistic without being too stark for the book. The descriptions of the wildlife and landscape that they encountered were quite vivid. The beauty around her went a long way toward helping Megan heal. I enjoyed the characters of Harris and Gideon and their parts in bringing Cal and Megan closer together.

The Single Dad's Second Chance - Brenda Harlen (HSE #2337 - June 2014)

Series: Those Engaging Garretts (Book 4)

The mommy project

Dear Diary,

Today I met my new mommy Well, I wish Rachel would be my new mommy. See, I love my daddy a lot, but ever since my real mommy died I think he's been very lonely. Rachel is so pretty, and she has the coolest job--she owns the flower shop in town She promised to show me how to make a bouquet.

My best friend, Kristy, says Daddy should take Rachel out on dates, and then they hafta kiss, and then they can get married. Diary, I wish Rachel would like my daddy and me as much as I like her. Maybe if she did, she would want to be my mommy and join our family. Maybe if I close my eyes and wish hard, it will come true....

Rachel would love to ignore Valentine's Day completely, but as a florist it just isn't possible. At the end of the day she is having dinner in a restaurant kitchen with her friend the owner when that friend invites Andrew to sit with Rachel. Rachel recognizes him as the man who comes in to buy flowers for his wife three times a year, and is surprised to see him alone. That's when she finds out that he has been a widower for three years.  After dinner they decide to go bowling and have a very good time together. Rachel has been on a dating hiatus for a long time, thanks to a relationship gone bad, and Andrew has only been out a few times since his wife's death.

Rachel is attracted to Andrew but wary of getting involved with him. Her last relationship had been with a man who hadn't really gotten over his ex-wife. She isn't sure she wants to be with a man who appears to still be grieving for his wife. When he admits that he has been, but is finally ready to move past it, she takes the risk. Andrew knows it's time to move on with his life, but he hadn't met a woman who motivated him to do so until he met Rachel. He starts out cautiously, not telling her about his daughter or what his job is. He's looking forward to Rachel getting to know who he is, not what he is. It doesn't take long for the two of them to get really involved with each other.

When Rachel finds out about his daughter before he has a chance to tell her, she is hurt and angry that he hadn't shared such an important part of his life. She is ready to end the relationship until he convinces her to give him another chance. Andrew confesses that he held back because he didn't want Maura to get attached and then nothing come of it. Now that she knows they spend more time together, including Maura. Maura really takes to Rachel, and is pushing for her to be her new mommy. Andrew panics a bit,  fearing things are moving too fast. He pulls back, bringing back memories for Rachel of her previous relationship. It doesn't take long for him to realize that he's being an idiot and gets in some good grovelling to try to fix things with Rachel.

Things appear to be going well as they are all getting to know each other. But interference from Andrew's former mother-in-law creates more issues and now it's Rachel who has to make a decision. I loved seeing Andrew stand up for her. The ending was really sweet.

The Husband List - Cindy Kirk (HSE #2331 - May 2014)

Series: Rx for Love (Book 11)

Mr. Right-Next-Door

For orthopedic surgeon Mitzi Sanchez, every step up the ladder of success has been the result of hard work and self-sacrifice. She's got the perfect life in the perfect town. Now she just needs the perfect man….

Pilot Keenan McGregor's life changed forever when he took the blame for someone else's actions. He just wants to rebuild his life, and he's definitely not looking to settle down. Still, whenever he's working with Mitzi, their connection is undeniably electric! Soon they're more than just friends-with-benefits -- but can Keenan convince the good-girl-next-door that she's the only woman who can tame his heart?

Good book. Mitzi has worked hard to make a success of her life after a rough childhood. She's given up a lot to get where she is. Now she's ready for the next step - finding a husband. She knows what she's looking for, she even has a list. Keenan isn't on that list, but he'd sure like to be. He is back home after several years spent in prison for something he didn't do. Now that he's free all he wants is to rebuild his life. He doesn't feel like he has anything to offer a woman yet, but he's happy to spend time with Mitzi just being friends - until that's no longer enough.

I loved Keenan. He had been convicted of something he hadn't done, but didn't fight it because his sister had been threatened if he did. Once the truth came out and he was released, he headed home to Jackson Hole to try to start over. He met Mitzi at his welcome home party and was instantly attracted to her. He'd like to spend time with her, but feels she's way out of his league. The attraction is mutual, but both agree that they're not what the other needs. They decide it's safe enough to be friends. I enjoyed seeing the way that they got to know each other and developed a good friendship before anything else happened.

I had a little harder time warming up to Mitzi. She really came across as rather snobby. For someone who started with nothing I would have expected her to be much more understanding of someone who was starting over. But she seemed much more interested in finding someone "suitable" and then trying to love them than in following her heart to begin with. I didn't care for the way that she behaved at the pizza place when she was out with Keenan at all. Once she decided that even though she wasn't going to have a relationship with him they could still be friends things started to pick up. I enjoyed seeing Keenan get her involved in having fun. Then, once again, her selfish side popped up with a kissing incident. I liked that she finally started to see how unfair she was being.

I enjoyed seeing the feelings building between them, but sure wanted to smack them both when they refused to see what was right in front of them. I liked seeing Mitzi be willing to chase that last dream and ached for her when Keenan bailed on her. Keenan was still letting his insecurities win out. I loved seeing his sister tell him what an idiot he was being. I loved his big moment at the end and seeing him finally allow himself to be happy.