The Lass Wore Black - Karen Ranney (Avon - Feb 2013)

Series: Scottish Sisters (Book 2)

Catriona Cameron was once famed for her seductive beauty and charm. Now she saw no one, hiding from the world . . . and no one dared break through her self-imposed exile.

No one, that is, until Mark Thorburn burst into her home, and Catriona's darkened world began to have color again. Thorburn, secretly the heir to an Earldom, claimed he was a footman. But Catriona didn't care about the scandal their passion could cause . . . for his very touch sparked her back to a life of sensuality, one she thought she'd never have again.

Little does she know that Mark is part of a masquerade. One that will end when they become the target of a madman set on revenge. Mark realizes he will have to do more than win her love . . . he will have to save her life as well.

This is the story of Catriona, Jean's sister from A Scandalous Scot. In that book we saw her as selfish, lazy, and with the morals of an alley cat. In this book she has suffered a horrible injury that has left her badly scarred and hiding from the world. She is quite bitter, feeling that if she doesn't have her beauty she has nothing at all to offer the world or a man. She's pretty much given up on life, though the aunt she lives with refuses to give up on her.

Mark is a doctor who has become friends with Catriona's aunt through their work with the poor of Edinburgh. He is the wealthy grandson of an earl, but medicine is his life. He also remembers Catriona from years earlier when he used to work with her father who had also been a doctor. He listens to Aunt Dina's fears about Caitriona and agrees to examine her and see if he can help. When he goes to her room to do so, she mistakes him for a footman and is incredibly rude to him. He sees that approaching her as a doctor isn't going to work, and goes along with her misconception. He tells her that he has been assigned by her aunt to make sure she eats and won't be leaving the room until she does so. He doesn't understand why he's so drawn to her and determined to help her, but he does succeed at irritating her into compliance.

Meanwhile Catriona is attracted to him, but doesn't see being able to do anything about it because of her scarring. Her arguments with him are beating back the feelings of darkness that she had been experiencing. She goes from wanting him gone, to missing him when he isn't there, though she won't admit that. He has a tremendous influence on her because he pretty much forces her to start living her life again. He wants her to overcome her focus on her looks and see that she can have true value in her life. She doesn't miraculously turn into a kind and loving woman, but she develops an empathy for others that shows a basic change in her character. Meanwhile, Mark's growing fascination with her has him focusing on something other than just his work. He begins to see that she brings some balance to his life. He realizes pretty quickly that his deception probably wasn't the best thing to do, but doesn't know how to fix it. When the truth comes out, he's definitely in trouble, but at least they've gotten to know each other a little. He does take the opportunity to drag her out of her limited world to show her that she's not the only one who has it bad. 

Catriona is in danger from an ex-lover who is furious at her rejection of him. He wants revenge and is behind the accident that caused her injuries, only he wanted her dead not injured. He is determined to finish what he started and we see the lengths to which he will go. His actions end up drawing Mark and Catriona closer together. The final confrontation was good and actually pretty realistic.

How to Entice an Earl - Manda Collins (St Martins - Feb 2013)

Series: Ugly Ducklings (Book 3)

Lady Madeline Essex is the last of the unwed "ducklings" in her family--and by far the most outspoken. But when she boldly enters London's most notorious gaming house in search of fodder for her novel, even her sharp tongue can't save her from the horrible crime she stumbles upon there. As luck would have it, first on the scene is the last man she wants to see her vulnerable. The one man who could tempt her heart...

Christian Monteith, the new Earl of Gresham, isn't much for card rooms and gaming hells. But as a favor to his former commanding officer, he's investigating a gamester for espionage on the night that Maddie ventures in looking more enticing than he's ever seen her. Suddenly, his feelings for his friend aren't so friendly anymore. And when her curiosity brings the impetuous novelist to the attention of a madman, Christian will stop at nothing to protect her--from a sinister plot that is far more dangerous than any stolen kiss...

Fun romance with just enough mystery to add some intensity. Maddie and Christian have known each other a long time. Their friends have been pushing them together for years, but all they are is friends. Things start to change the night she visits a gaming house and stumbles over a dead body. Christian was there for another reason, but doesn't hesitate to step in to protect Maddie from the consequences.

I really liked both Maddie and Christian. Of the three "ugly ducklings" she is the most independent and outspoken. She has no trouble stating her opinions, especially when it comes to the "proper" place of a woman. So she wasn't very happy to be left stranded and dependent on Christian's help.  She is also determined to help clear her brother's name and ends up making a deal with Christian that she won't investigate without him. Spending all that time with Christian has her feelings for him changing. 

Christian is handsome, charming, witty and quite sexy. He has been tasked with checking into rumors of espionage on the part of someone at the gaming hell, and is there the night that Maddie talks her brother into bringing her. There's something about her that night that has him looking at her differently. In spite of his assignment he can't leave her to fend for herself. 

I really loved the progression of their romance. They start out as friends first, never having looked at each other as anything else. Christian was the first to notice that things were changing that very first evening as he held her when she cried over what she had seen. He tried hard to ignore how right she felt in his arms.  One of the things I liked best about Christian was how well he understood Maddie.  He respects her intelligence and her need to be involved. He is protective, but able to respect her abilities, even though some of her schemes make him wonder about her sanity. Maddie also notices that she's feeling different about Christian. When he kisses her it opens the door to a flood of feelings. Besides the physical attraction she also sees that there is more to him. She gets frustrated by his need to protect, but as she learns more about him she begins to understand, even though she still fights against it. She is also protective of him and his feelings. The attraction between them is strong, and it's fun to see how easily they embrace it. Neither seems to be aware that the reason it is so wonderful for them is because they do love each other.

I really liked the fact that there are no huge misunderstandings or crises that tear them apart or have to be overcome. Maddie learns that it's okay to lean on Christian for help and support. She was surprised when he stood up to her father over his attitude toward her and it just added to her feelings for him. Christian learned that the most important thing he could do to show Maddie how much he cares is to talk to her, to not keep things from her just to protect her.

There are a couple of interesting twists and turns to the mystery that kept me guessing about the culprit. Maddie's brother starts out looking pretty bad, but by the end things have turned around for him. The final confrontation is pretty intense. I enjoyed seeing how Maddie got involved and how important it ended up being that she did. 

Come Home to Me - Brenda Novak (Mira - Mar 2014)

Series: Whiskey Creek (Book 6)

Home is where her heart is

When Presley Christensen returns to Whiskey Creek with her little boy after two years away, she has completely changed her life. She's made peace with her past and overcome the negative behavior that resulted from her difficult childhood. Now she's back in the small town that was the closest thing to "home" she ever knew--the town where she can be with the sister who's her only family.

There's just one catch. Aaron Amos still lives in Whiskey Creek, at least until he moves to Placerville to open a branch of the Amos brothers' auto body shop. And no matter how hard she's tried, Presley hasn't been able to get over him. Seeing him again makes the longing so much worse. But she hopes she can get through the next few months, because she can't fall back into his arms...or his bed. She's come too far to backslide now. And there's a secret she's been guarding--a secret she'll do anything to protect.

My least favorite of the series so far, which is too bad because I was really looking forward to it. Presley had been a hot mess when she left town two years ago. She had been into parties, drugs and sex, and Aaron had been her cohort of choice. She had been crazy in love with him, even though he didn't feel the same way about her, and made a real pest of herself at times. When he turned her away at a time she really needed him, she fled in despair.

Two years later she has come back to Whiskey Creek. She has gotten her act together and has made a good life for herself and her little boy. She has a healthy lifestyle and has started a yoga and massage studio. She's thrilled to have repaired her relationship with her sister. The only drawback is that Aaron is still living in Whiskey Creek, at least for awhile longer. As much as she has tried, she has never stopped loving him.

Aaron never forgot her either. He had tried to find her when she first left, but gave up after awhile. Now that she's back, he'd really like to pick up where they left off, but she's resisting. He can see that she has changed, but he likes the new Presley. He can also see the desire in her eyes, and can feel it when he kisses her, but she won't give him the time of day. He starts to realize that she is serious when she tells him that she's looking for a man who is willing to love her and commit to her and her son, and that's something he's never been able to do.

I wasn't all that upset with her decision not to tell Aaron that Wyatt was his when she first discovered she was pregnant. She was in a bad place emotionally and he had never made a secret of his feelings about love and marriage. She thought she was doing the right thing for herself and the baby. It got a little trickier once she came back to town. Her sister knew the truth, but didn't tell her husband, who was also Aaron's brother. I got very frustrated with her when she would make a big show of telling him that there was nothing between them anymore, but then give in and sleep with him. It was even worse when she started dating another man, a really nice guy, and still couldn't resist Aaron. I also didn't like the way that she was so proud of the way she had changed, but refused to consider that Aaron may have changed too. Even after she came clean about Wyatt she kept telling Aaron that she didn't expect anything of him, even though he made it clear that he wanted to be part of Wyatt's life. She just kept pushing him away.

While Aaron frustrated me at first because he seemed more interested in sleeping with her than anything else, there were still plenty of signs that he had gone through some changes in the last two years. He's not the hard partier that he had been, he's shown a lot of responsibility with the business, and he doesn't seem quite as hotheaded as he had been. It's obvious that he cares a lot more than he wants to admit, especially when she goes out with the other guy. What really made me like him was when he found out about Wyatt. He was angry, but he was also hurt that she had had so little faith in him. I loved seeing him jump into being a father with his whole heart. It was really sweet to see him and his brothers that first day that they had Wyatt all to themselves. He also cared enough about Presley to try to do what she wanted, but also to let her know that he wanted a chance to try to build something with her. His move away was hard on both of them, but it did serve to open up their eyes to what they really felt. I really liked his go big moment at the end.

The part I absolutely hated about the book, that took it from a four to a three (and almost lower) was the storyline involving Cheyenne and Dylan. I understood the stress that their inability to conceive was putting on their marriage, but the actions that Cheyenne took were so far beyond wrong. How she could justify that kind of deception against the man she says she loves is inconceivable, and to involve his brother is even worse. I kept waiting for something bad to happen, but it was left completely hanging. I really hate the idea that they could get away with it.

Run to You - Rachel Gibson (Avon - Sept 2013)

Series: Lovett Texas (Book 4)

There's nothing like fleeing Miami to ruin a girl's day.

Stella Leon's bartending gig was going fine until gorgeous ex-Marine Beau Junger decked her mob-connected boss, spirited her out of the city, and claimed that Stella's half-sister -- the one with the perfect life -- sent him. Now Stella has no choice but to go along for the ride . . . and seduce Beau's military-issue socks off . . .

The Marine Corps was Beau's escape from his old man's legacy of naval heroism and serial philandering, but no amount of training could prepare him for the day he looked in the mirror and saw his father staring back. The answer: swear off meaningless sex. Oh, and find a way to make Stella Leon quit being so damn hot . . .

Really fun book. Stella's life is going just fine until her half-sister tries to contact her. The man that she sent, Beau Junger, came to her rescue when her boss tried to hit on her. Unfortunately, the man has mob ties and wants revenge on both Stella and Beau. All Beau had wanted was to get Stella to visit her sister in Texas, and now he's stuck on a road trip with her.

Their initial contact wasn't so great for either one of them. Stella thought Beau was rude and controlling and he found her simply annoying. One thing they both had in common was a really strong attraction to each other. 

I loved Stella. She's rough around the edges and doesn't have much of a filter on her mouth. Her father had never wanted anything to do with her and her mother, which left her feeling pretty worthless. She had always been aware that she had a sister, and was envious of her successes and that she had the love of their father. Her own mother wasn't the warmest of people and Stella had been pretty self-sufficient from an early age. One thing she's always prided herself on was having the self-control to save the last step of her virginity for the man she will love. It doesn't take too long before she starts to reconsider that plan, because as much of a pain that Beau is, she finds him irresistible. 

Beau was quite a character himself. He and his twin brother had been raised by their father with the expectation that they would follow in his footsteps and become SEALs. Everything was on track until Beau discovered that his dad was also incapable of being faithful to his mother. This made Beau so mad that he turned around and joined the Marines instead. After a successful career as a sniper, he got out and started his own security business. He also enjoyed his time playing the field with women, until the day he realized he was more like his old man than he wanted to be. So he decided to give up meaningless sex and look for a woman to settle down with, not an easy goal when he's on the road so much. Beau had thought his mission to Miami would be a piece of cake. Find Stella, tell her about her sister, put her on a plane and move on. Rescuing her from her mob boss was unexpected. The red-hot attraction he felt for her was even more so. He can't figure out how someone so annoying can get under his skin the way she has.

I really enjoyed their interactions. Stella doesn't just sit back and do what the big guy tells her to do, she makes sure that she lets her opinion be known. She also doesn't resist just for the sake of resisting. She's smart enough to know when she needs help. She doesn't like to show her vulnerabilities and it was fun seeing her try to tough things out sometimes. Beau prides himself on his control, but there's something about Stella that just makes him lose it. He knows his attraction to her is messing with his plans to stay away from meaningless sex, and he keeps trying to find ways to unload her, but nothing works. He's got just a little too much gentleman in him to abandon her. I loved seeing him cave in time after time. He doesn't realize just how his feelings for her are changing until it's nearly too late.

I also enjoyed the family dynamics. Stella and her sister had been raised very differently, but ended up having far more in common than they expected. Stella's nerves were understandable. I loved seeing how the two of them connected pretty quickly once they realized their preconceptions were all wrong. Beau and his brother Blake were quite a pair. They really took their brotherly competitiveness and Marine vs. SEAL rivalry to a whole new level. The skeet shooting scene was terrific, especially when Stella got into the act. I really liked the fact that, in spite of the competitiveness, Beau really was concerned about Blake and did something about it.

I'm looking forward to reading Blake's story and going back to read Vince's.

A Promise at Bluebell Hill - Emma Cane (Avon - Feb 2014)

Series: Valentine Valley (Book 4)

From the moment Secret Service agent Travis Beaumont strides into the town and through the door of Monica Shaw's flower shop, she feels a sizzle of attraction. After years of putting everyone else's needs first, Monica is ready to grab hold of life. If she can just persuade the ultimate protector to let his own walls down for once . . .

The President's son is getting married in Valentine Valley, and Travis should be avoiding all distractions . . . not fantasizing about a forthright, sexy-as-hell florist. Especially when she's keeping secrets that could jeopardize his assignment. But just this once, Travis is tempted to put down the rulebook and follow his heart -- right to Monica's door.

Such a fun book. Monica is the local florist who has spent her whole life in Valentine Valley. Travis is the Secret Service agent who has come to town to get ready for a presidential visit. The president's son  is marrying a local girl and it's Travis's job to make sure everything goes smoothly. As he goes around town checking out the local businesses, he meets Monica. There is an instant attraction between them, but he has to maintain his focus so he can do his job. Monica feels the attraction too and would like to get to know him better.

Monica is a fun character. She's independent, loves her business, and active in her community, especially environmental issues. She's the kind of person who puts others' needs ahead of her own, but she's starting to wonder when it will be her turn to find love. Monica is intrigued by Travis and his stoic demeanor. She'd like a chance to get him to loosen up a little. I really loved seeing her interactions with him at the beginning as she tried hard to get reactions from him. It was fun to see them teasing each other.

Travis is former military and it's easy to see the influence it has had on his life. It has also contributed to his tendency to keep his emotions locked up. There's a great scene at the beginning where Travis is talking to a local veteran and Monica overhears something that gives her a little more insight into who he is. Because she knows almost everyone, Travis finds himself going to Monica frequently for information and introductions. They start to build a friendship, but their attraction is always simmering just below the surface. Though they try to stick to business as usual they aren't very successful at staying away from each other. The more time they spend together the deeper they fall for each other, though neither wants to admit it. Neither really sees a way to have a true relationship.

Adding to the complications of Monica and Travis trying to be together are the antics of the ladies of the Widow's Boarding House. These women are also very active in the community. Their current cause is that of trying to prevent the shutting down of a local archaeological dig. They feel that having the president coming to town is the perfect opportunity to get their message out and have planned a protest. As a participant Monica is torn about what to do. Travis has heard rumors of the protest, but nobody is talking to him about it, including Monica. She wants to tell him, but she has a loyalty to her friends also and doesn't want to chance that the protest will be shut down. This creates some tension between Travis and Monica because both want trust from the other, but are wary of doing the trusting themselves. By the time the protest comes around Travis has made some interesting discoveries about himself. The changes he has gone through have made him a person who is much more open to the idea of a happy future. I loved how this all becomes obvious during the protest. The event itself was fantastic and fit the town and the widows perfectly. I loved everyone's reactions to it.

Becoming the Prince's Wife - Rebecca Winters (HR #4427 - June 2014)

Series: Princes of Europe (Book 2)

A forbidden love…with a prince!

Attorney Carolena Baretti keeps her cards close to her chest. But when a chance encounter with the handsome prince ignites a fiery attraction, Carolena finds that he may just be the one man she can trust….

Crown prince Valentino finds himself increasingly distracted from his duty by commoner Carolena. But Valentino is playing with fire. To be with Carolena he would have to sacrifice everything -- including his right to the throne….

Sweet story with both Carolena and Valentino having obstacles to overcome. They are introduced when she joins her friend Abby and Prince Vincenzo for a combination vacation and business meeting. She and Val are immediately attracted to each other but a relationship is impossible. Val is engaged to a princess in an arranged marriage required for him to become king. Carolena has never recovered from the guilt that she feels over her fiance's death and has  vowed never to marry.

I really liked Val. Even though he has a reputation as a playboy prince there is a lot more to him. He is a volcanologist who has a real passion for his work. He wants to be able to protect his people in the event of an eruption. When he meets Carolena he is bowled over by her beauty, and then entranced by her intelligence and enthusiasm. He knows he should stay away from her but he can't. The more time he spends with her the more he realizes his unwillingness to enter a loveless marriage. He has to convince Carolena that marriage between them is possible. I loved his determination to win her over. He showed sensitivity to her fears, but he wasn't going to let them get in the way of their future. I loved seeing him slowly break down her walls. He seemed to know when to push and when to back off.

Carolena is a beautiful and intelligent woman but she has closed herself off from emotional entanglements. She lost her fiance in an accident that she feels responsible for. She doesn't want to get involved with someone and risk that kind of loss again. Her immediate attraction to Val is so strong that it scares her. The more she gets to know him, the better she likes him. I loved her enthusiasm for his work and the way she made her admiration clear. She also sees how much he is loved and respected as the crown prince. She can't stand the idea of him giving it all up for her, certain that he would resent it eventually. She keeps trying to push him away but he won't go. Carolena has to learn to separate the man from the prince in order to see what they can have together.

I loved seeing the two of them together. Val was a real romantic and I really liked all the special touches of their time together. Carolena may have been resisting the idea of loving Val, but it was obvious that she did. Her trip to the volcano with him was just one way that showed her feelings. There was a really interesting twist to the problem of Val's engagement and I enjoyed seeing his reaction to it. I liked seeing Carolena finally take steps to deal with her issues and loved the confidence it gave her.  

The Reasons to Stay - Laura Drake (HS #1939 - Aug 2014)

Series: Widow's Grove (Book 2)

Where she belongs?

Free spirit Priscilla Hart doesn't get tied down, to anyone or any place. Then she arrives in Widow's Grove and meets her half brother. The ten-year-old tough guy has no one else but her. So Priss stays -- for now.

But her sexy new landlord, Adam Preston, is interfering with her ideas. He's everything Priss normally steers clear of -- committed, stable and no rebellious urges in sight. As opposite as they are, each conversation, each touch, each kiss they share feels so right. Can a little gangster-wannabe, an irresistible "nice guy" and an odd assortment of new friends make Priss want to stay for good?

Priss left her dysfunctional childhood behind as soon as she graduated from high school. For the past ten years she has lived life on her own terms, going where she wants to go whenever she wants to go. She's avoided emotional entanglements, only getting involved with guys who have no desire for anything permanent. When she gets word that her mother has died, she heads to Widow's Grove to say her farewells. There she meets the ten year old half brother she knew nothing about. With their mother gone, he has no one but her and is headed for foster care if she doesn't take him.

Priss has never done anything that requires a commitment but she can't stand the idea of Ignacio, or Nacho, going into the system. She'd been there once and wouldn't wish it on anyone. So she commits to staying in Widow's Grove until school lets out, when she and Nacho would move on. But that means she needs a job and a place to live. 

Enter Adam, who has two apartments above his pharmacy. His mom lives in one and the other is available. He's not too sure about renting to Priss - she's completely outside his experience. He lives a very calm, stable life and Priss and her brother are about to really shake it up. 

This was definitely a case of opposites attracting. Adam and Priss got off to a rocky start, but soon developed a cautious friendship. Priss found herself listening to Adam when he talked about what might be going through Nacho's mind when he was acting out. The things he said gave her unexpected insight into her brother, but also into what made Adam tick. She stops seeing him as a stick in the mud but as a man with a lot of love to give. Adam is drawn to the woman who is nothing like he's ever experienced before. He's impressed by her strength and her courage in facing whatever life sends her way.

Adam's past has had him living a quiet and safe life, never allowing him to take any risks. Meeting Priss has made him realize that he is stuck in a rut. I loved seeing the changes he went through as he faced up to his fears. He went from a really uptight, judgmental kind of guy to one who could see the best in people. There was one place where he allowed himself to jump to conclusions, and when he was proved wrong he had the courage to admit it and apologize. It wasn't an easy thing for him to do, but it showed the emotional growth he was experiencing. I especially loved seeing him really face his fears at the end, as his feelings for Priss helped him be there when she needed him.

Priss has had her own ghosts to fight. Staying in Widow's Grove for Nacho has her facing her feelings for her mother. She is afraid of doing the wrong things while trying to be a parent for her brother, and this gives her a bit of insight into what drove her mother. I loved seeing Priss become part of the community of Widow's Grove. She is much more of a people person than she realizes and I really enjoyed seeing her interactions with the people she met. Priss does have to fight her feelings of inferiority around other people. She thinks of herself as a mutt that lives on the fringes of life, and it takes awhile for her to accept that people like her for the person she is. I loved how she started showing how much she has come to care for people. It got her in some trouble at the end, but also opened her eyes to what she now wants for her life.

I loved the character of Nacho and how he was the bridge between Priss and Adam. It was through him that each of them learned what they were capable of. As a character himself, I loved seeing the combination of tough guy and little boy. He had some really good parts where he cut through the bull around him and straightened out the adults in his life.