Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right (Impossible Bachelors 2) by Kieran Kramer

Hello to all,

   Before i go back to rest , i wanted to introduce you to another historical romance that i loved. So to be extremely short, here is my review of Dukes to the Left of Me,Princes to the Right written by Kieran Kramer

Happy reading!

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Publication: 2010

ISBN:  031237402X

Genre: historical romance
Violence: none
Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: won

Short description from goodread :

Most women would not be pleased to be labeled a spinster. But Lady Poppy Smith-Barnes isn’t most women. In fact, Poppy has invented an imaginary fiancé, the Duke of Drummond, to deter unwanted suitors. A very useful fellow, this duke, until the real Drummond turns up and uses Poppy’s ploy to trap her in a betrothal.
A good spy flies below the radar. Which is why being named one of the Prince Regent’s “Impossible Bachelors” is so inconvenient for Nicholas Staunton. Every society female will be out to ensnare him. Nicholas needs a fiancée—and Poppy’s ruse is the answer. How could he have known she’d be a brazen, sensual siren with an irresistible taste for adventure? Now nothing less will do than to convince his fiery Poppy to revoke her spinster status…for good.

My opinion:

          Lovely! I spend an excellent time with this book. Kieran Kramer did a wonderful job, she perfectly balanced adventure, action and romance so well that you are immersed in both and I can’t ell you which part I preferred.

This excellent book managed to catch my interest fully while I was starting to want to throw away any more historical romance (a bit like an overdose at the moment I needed something really good or different and this book did it)

The characters are funny and moving. I loved how Nicholas was maturing during the book, how he started to understand really what responsibilities are and how he is discovering what he really wants. Poppy is genial too, she believes in love and wants to settle for nothing less. It requires a lot of courage and persistence. She is really intelligent and fights for her dreams. However she isn’t without a doubt either and she is capable to rethink her beliefs. When she discovers that her first love was more a product of her memories and imagination than the real man she doesn’t try to change him. She accepts the truth and moves on. It’s easy to say that we want to marry for love but first we have to discover what love is. Kieran managed to perfectly show theses hesitations and developments, we can enjoy the evolution of the main two characters as well as they relationship. A strong heroine who knows what she wants, that’s a great change from damsel in distress.

The plot is well constructed; there are revelations during the entire book so the readers keep being surprised. We don’t have time to be annoyed.

The secondary characters are also important and not just put in the story without reason. Beatrice, Eleanor, and Charlotte support Poppy all along the way, they help her to make some introspection and to keep strong. Nicholas also has his supporters even if they enter later in the story they act exactly in the same way than the girls for Poppy (even if they are just a bit less active). The villains are perfect for their roles too^^ we dislike them so easily (but with reasons!)

I really enjoyed this book which made me laugh and nearly cry sometimes, I really don’t regret it and I want to see more of Kieran’s books.

To recommend without a doubt, if you want a heroine with energy and not just a damsel in distress it’s the perfect book for you.

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge



Book read for the 2012 TBR reading

 

The Rogue Pirate’s Bride (The Sons of The Revolution 3) by Shana Galen

Hi!

 On this cloudy sunday, i didn't want to just post about followers, stress, etc.You are here for the books after all^^ So i will pursue with you my discovery of the historical romance subgenre with this time again a book being part of a series. Seems like nearly all my historical romance are part of a series and i didn't know it. So today is the Rogue Pirate's Bride by Shana Galen , third book of the trilogy but perfect as a stand alone too, it just made me to discover more of this author so i wouldn't mind trying the first 2books however if you haven't read it don't worry you can start by this one.

So without waiting happy reading!

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication: 2012

ISBN:  1402265556

Genre: Historical romance
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: mild/strong
Public: 18+

Source: Arc won from Stella in one of Ex-Libris’ Challenges

Short description from goodread :

 After escaping France on a privateer’s ship, Sebastien becomes the notorious privateer, Captain Cutlass. His reputation as a rogue precedes him, and he’s undefeated in battle . . . until he crosses swords with the beautiful daughter of a British admiral.
Raeven Russell is out for revenge, but now she’s not so sure she wants the dashing captain to change his wicked ways

My opinion:

          I loved it, I guess I’m fond of pirates romances with the action, the adventure and I’ve read this one in a really short time because I couldn’t close the book.

To start, this book can perfectly be read as a stand alone, it’s part of a series yes but until I was writing this I didn’t know it and it didn’t have any consequence on my enjoyment of this book. Shana Galen style makes it completely wonderful even without any knowledge of the first books of the series. She found the perfect balance between action and romance.

Now I admit that at first I found Raeven really irritating, using his father’s men like puppet for what she wanted. Really selfish or more exactly a little girl that always got away with everything and didn’t learn how her acts could have big consequences for her and for those around her. She is fiery, independent but act stupidly while she is educated, in the sea ways yes but still. Then as I got more and more in the book I started to see another side of her, her romantic and dreamy side and I appreciated her more. She is an excellent strategist, she know her way on a ship but still stay quite naïve.

Cutlass, or Bastien for his really good friends, is a privateer so not really a pirate but near the different being that he is doing it in the name of a country, before that he was a member of the French nobility until his childhood was destroyed in the French revolution, a past he doesn’t like to speak about.

His past made him sure of himself while not arrogant, he is loyal also so loyal that he wants to take revenge on the one who killed his pirate’s mentor.  At the beginning he doesn’t understand why this young woman, disguised as a man, wants to see him dead with such a passion. It’s only later, after her escape, when he learnt her name that he discovers why and for him it’s a misunderstanding but both will take a lot of time before accepting to see the truth of their past.

The plot is fast not really original but very well written. The main heroes are a perfect match and the secondary characters really moving: loyal Percy, wise Gaston and the others there are necessarily one to move your heart. It’s really enjoyable and I would be curious to read the first books of the series to see things from his brothers’ side.

To recommend without a doubt if you love adventure, romance and witty remarks^^

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge



Grey’s Lady ( Carte Blanche1) by Natasha Blackthorne

Hello to all,

                    since i took a break from my creative work - i 'm attempting to draw new models for my keychains and bookmarks- and from the school work, i've pursued my discovered of historical romance subgenre so today i introduce you to Natasha Blackthorne and her novella "Grey's Lady", not for all publics that's for sure but really well written.

Enjoy!

Publisher: Total E-bound

Publication: 2011

ISBN:  978085715618

Genre: erotic, historical romance
Violence: none
Language: normal
sex: really strong
Public: 18+

Source: Won from the Author in a Blog Hop

Short description from goodread :

 Seeking sexual excitement and conquest, poor but beautiful Beth seduces wealthy merchant prince Grey Sexton, only to find herself the pursued as he seeks to own her body and soul.

Flouting the moral standards of Jeffersonian America, temptress Beth McConnell lets no man touch her heart. Her motto is love them once and leave them burning.

But when she boldly seduces Grey Sexton, a self-controlled merchant prince from New York, she finds herself too fascinated by his ice-over-fire nature to stay away. His possessive determination to own her, body and soul, threatens to expose her secret erotic life to public shame.

But Beth will only surrender her love to a man she can trust. And Grey's materialistic approach to relationships leaves her little reason to believe he can ever give her what she truly needs.

For these two cynical yet lonely people, can deep sexual intimacy work a miracle and lead to the opening of their hearts?

My opinion:

          Great novella, I really like the writing style of Natasha Blackthorne very dynamic and moving. Now at first I saw this book as an historical romance with an erotic touch but after reading it I think it’s preferable to say it’s a erotic story that takes place in the past like a historical romance^^, small detail but really important one.

The story takes place in America, Philadelphia to be more precise and I liked this change of scenery because a lot of the historical romances I’ve read so far are set in England and I wanted something different.

The characters did amuse me, Beth is determined, having been hurt she wants to turn the tables and be the seductress now however she forgot that it’s a dangerous game and feelings can’t be so easily controlled. Grey irritates her but captivates her too so well that she changes her rules and accept to see him more than once but still wants to keep her independence. She is experimented, young and strong willed far from the naïve girl we are often confronted to in the historical romance.

Grey has lived a life where he kept mistresses, took care of them but doesn’t form any attachment, feelings to them. For him it’s like a contract. Beth surprises him she is bold but still keeps something innocent about her that’s not faked. Attracted, he decides that he will keep her so that she doesn’t go to some else and are always available for him. He couldn’t imagine that one sane woman could say no to his generous offer, but Beth did and now he must understand what he is feeling and what he is ready to sacrifice.

It’s short yes, a bit normal since it’s a novella not a full book but I spend a great time when I wasn’t blushing because it’s really not for a public under 18years. The erotic part are numerous, exceptionally well written and really hot. Perhaps even a bit too much for me.

To recommend for the lover of historical romances who wants something hot!

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenge:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Romancing the Countess (Romancing 1) by Ashley March

Hello to all,

           Today i wanted to share with you another Historical romance since it the main topic of this month. I discovered Ahsley March and her book "Romancing the Countess" last year during the long blog tour and i tried at every stops i could and even commented when the giveaway wasn't open for me. During this tour i started to enjoy a lot this friendly, and meticulous, author and i soon followed her. In the end, i didn't win her book but i couldn't resist so i bought it as soon as i could and i will be very happy to discover her others books.

A small note though, now she s a self publishing author so her next books will be written under the name " Elise Rome"

 

Publisher: Signet Eclipse

Publication: 2011

ISBN:  0451234510

Genre: historical romance
Violence: none
Language: mild
sex: mild/strong
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodread :

Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly, thought he'd married the perfect woman-until a fatal accident revealed her betrayal with his best friend. After their deaths, Sebastian is determined to avoid a scandal for the sake of his son. But his best friend's widow is just as determined to cast her mourning veil aside by hosting a party that will surely destroy both their reputations and expose all of his carefully kept secrets...

Leah George has carried the painful knowledge of her husband's affair for almost a year. All she wants now is to enjoy her independence and make a new life for herself-even if that means being ostracized by the Society whose rules she was raised to obey. Now that the rumors are flying, there's only one thing left for Sebastian to do: silence the scandal by enticing the improper widow into becoming a proper wife. But when it comes to matters of the heart, neither Sebastian nor Leah is prepared for the passion they discover in each other's arms...

 

My opinion:

          I did want this book a lot, I followed all stop of the tour, tried every contest and finally I bought it. Why? Because from the excerpt and interview I got the feeling the author really did made research and wanted to stay true to the society of that time. I can tell you that I wasn’t disappointed at all.

 

The whole world and society is really well portrayed, the tone of the story is perfect; the characters are well thought, their personality in accordance with their past and upbringing. The plot is also original and feels quite just.

Leah is young and has been hurt by her husband’s infidelity that she had to keep secret for one year…pretend everything was fine, that she was happy and such while all she waited was freedom from all these obligations. Her mother really strict  dictated all her life, decided her marriage and now she still think that she somehow failed so when her husband died in an accident she is determined to change things even if it(‘s risky for a woman to be unconventional.

Sebastian is a man really in love with his wife so when she died in an accident he is devastated but the worse is only coming when he learns that she wasn’t alone but with his best friend with who she had a liaison. All is world is crashing down, his perfect wife wasn’t perfect at all, his love, his life a lie and he is hurt by that and by the fact he never suspected anything. Now he wants to protect her reputation because if her liaison his known their child Henri will suffer, people could say he wasn’t legitimate. He didn’t think he could start loving again even less someone like Leah but soon he is captivated and fight his attraction by irritating her until he must act but once again it will be under the cover of some other reasons than his true feeling.

I enjoyed this book but perhaps it’s because of the time it takes place it’s not my favourite perhaps because I need something else but for me it was a bit slow, perfectly normal for the story and the characters but I guess I’m needing something more at the moment. I was frustrated by the rules she had to observe; by the fact that appearances were everything and her lack of freedom even as a widow she must refer to someone else. It seemed so unfair and I pity these women, they were definitively more courageous than I . Now I was also frustrated by their relationship one step forward, then two backward… like I said it’s understandable but for me , for once, I would have loved if things weren’t so hesitant.

I didn’t like the illicit couple but I learned to know them thank to the excerpt of their correspondence and I understand they were also caught by the time and society but still they her Leah and Sebastian by acting like that and I resent them for that.

So a great book for lover of historical romance that are quite picky on the details^^; I would be very happy to try her others books too because her writing style is really pleasant. To recommend.

Score:  3,5/5

 

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

 

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge



Book read for the 2012 TBR reading

 







L’Insoumise et L’Irlandais (MacEgan 5) par Michelle Willingham

Bonjour à tous,

                           Comme je l'ai annoncé précédemment le mois de septembre sera principalement consacré à la découverte du genre " romance historique" avec des avis en français comme aujourd'hui et d'autres en anglais. Je fais dès lors une petite pause dans ma création de certains cadeaux pour vous présenter mon avis sur "L'insoumise et l' Irlandais" par Michelle Willingham, j'ai aperçu ce livre sur une étagère et je n'ai pas pu résister or en cherchant les informations précises pour rédiger cet avis j'ai eu la surprise d'apprendre qu'il s'agissait en fait du 5ème tome d'une saga, en effet aucune mention n'en était faite dans mon édition >_<.
Je vous rassure il peut être lu seul cependant je préfère lire une série dans l'ordre donc j'espère un jour mettre la main sur les tomes précédents.

Bonne lecture

 

 

Editeur VF: Harlequin, Col. Les Historiques 2011
Titre original:Taming Her Irish Warrior( edited 2009)
Genre: romance historique

Violence: élevé
Langage: normal
sexe: élevé
Public: 18+

Prix : 6,5euro
Obtenu par achat

Quatrième de couverture de l'éditeur Harlequin:

Angleterre, 1180. Frémissante, Honora s’abandonne dans les bras de MacEgan. Plus rien n’existe pour elle sinon le contact brûlant des lèvres de son ténébreux guerrier. Qui aurait dit qu’Ewan MacEgan, avec lequel elle a grandi, deviendrait ce conquérant si séduisant ? Ewan dont elle était follement éprise et qui n’avait déjà d’yeux que pour sa sœur, la douce et fragile Katherine, si différente d’elle… A cette pensée, Honora est brusquement ramenée à la réalité, et repousse le guerrier avec colère. Comment ose-t-il l’embrasser alors qu’il est de retour pour prétendre à la main de Katherine ? Alors qu’il convoite une autre femme ? N’a-t-il donc aucun honneur ? Bouleversée, Honora s’enfuit, déterminée à tout faire, désormais, pour résister à la scandaleuse attirance que le bel Irlandais exerce sur elle…

Avis:

          Très agréable, j’ai apprécié l’histoire sans savoir qu’en fait il s’agissait du 5ème tome d’une saga, il est donc tout a fait possible de lire cette série dans le désordre. L’époque et le fait de la différence entre la culture Normande et Irlandaise m’ont intriguée et j’ai pris plaisir à lire cette histoire et découvrir quelques aspects légaux de l’époque.

Honora est une femme très indépendante et son souhait secret est d’être une guerrière mais pour plaire à son père elle a accepté d’épouser une brute et en a énormément souffert. Si son estime de soi est pratiquement à zéro elle n’en a pas pour autant perdu son sens du devoir et de la justice. Raison pour laquelle elle est encore prête à de nouveaux sacrifices. Par contre, le personnage de sa sœur  ne m’a pas vraiment convaincu et encore moins le secret qu’elle cache car si pour Honora on explique comment elle en est venue à ce point là pour Katherine on dirait qu’elle était beaucoup plus surveillée et dès lors ça me paraissait moins vraisemblable.

Ewan lui veut s’affirmer, étant le plus jeune de 5frères il souhaite affirmer sa puissance et son indépendance pour ce faire il veut des biens et des terres et à ses yeux le plus facile pour obtenir tout cela est d’épouser une jeune et riche héritière. Mais voilà, alors même qu’il a grandit avec Honora et sa sœur, celle-ci ne cesse de le troubler. Vexé par des échanges passés, son honneur le pousse tout de même à veiller sur elle et à la protéger lorsqu’il apprends qu’elle est veuve et ce qu’elle a subit…mais vous savez ce qu’on dit parfois les enfants qui se disputent beaucoup enfant font les meilleurs couples mais il devra alors apprendre à faire confiance car elle n’acceptera plus d’être étouffée par les conventions.

J’ai aimé mais en même temps j’avais l’impression qu’il manquait un je ne sais quoi pour que j’adore ce livre, pas grand-chose mais quand même. Notamment le fait de la capture de Katherine à un moment, je ne vois pas trop comment cela a pu se produire sans que son père ne réagisse plus vite, un détail mais pas sans importance.Peut-être que si j’avais lu les tomes précédents auparavant je n’aurais pas eu cette impression car on fait beaucoup d’allusions à des évènement passés ainsi qu’à l’histoire personnelle des autres frères toutefois le style d’écriture et la façon dont le récit se développement ne donne pas vraiment le sentiment que cette lecture soit indispensable mais elle serait peut-être un bonus plus que respectable.

Je vais vraiment essayer de mettre la main sur le reste de la série en tout cas. A recommander aux amoureux de fins heureuses et romantiques assidus..

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Book read for the 2012 TBR reading

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge



Firelight ( Darkest London 1) by Kristen Callihan

Hello to all,

                     July is already there even if the sun doesn't seem to follow. As you already know if it's not your first time on the blog, i've entered several challenges including one for which i i have to try a new subgenre of romance each month. For July it's steampunk romance and from the list of suggestions we received i had some books ready.

One of those i really wanted to read for a long time and Mary kindly gifted it to me as a RAK, it's a paranormal romance with a twist of historical and steampunk so perfect to start this month.  Here come the first book of the Darkest London series by Kristen Callihan: "Firelight"

Enjoy!

Publisher: Forever

Publication: 2012

ISBN:  1455508594

Genre: paranormal romance, steampunk, historical
Violence: stong
Langage: mild
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: received as a RAK from Mary

Short description from goodread :

 Once the flames are ignited . . .

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask

My opinion:

          Splendid! What a wonderful travel in the London society from 19^th century with the mystical legends and myths being described in a realistic way. Secret society, sorcery mixed with the world of the high society and its endless gossips, the mix is perfect.

I loved to see how Miranda was a strong independent woman in a world where she should have been just a pawn she fought to be herself and keep her honour. Yes she did wrong and she is the most virtuous girl for the time but in a way she is really modern. She is suffering because of her father’s action and a misplaced guilt that makes her vulnerable.  She needs Archer’s love to discover that she can see her power as a gift not a curse but she is slow to offer him her trust. Kristen constructed her psyche really well. Having been rejected by the one she loved, more important that she trusted because she admitted to him being different is something striking, offensive that influence her personality. When she finally admits the truth to Archer it’s the moment when she trusts him completely without any reserve. The moment she becomes herself and stop being afraid.

Archer isn’t a hero like the others. He has a disability, one that casts him out from the society. He knows that‘s partially his fault so while trying to find a remedy he doesn’t arbour bad feeling against his long ago friend. Their rejection hurt him but he is more repulsed by the monster he could become. He doesn’t live until meeting Miranda just tries to survive. However, as soon as he discovers her, life changes. He wants her to love him; he wants to be able to be near her, to save her. She becomes his treasure and even if she perfectly knows that she isn’t defenceless he won’t confide. He will want to keep her in the dark, keeping the truth from her because he, like her, is afraid of a new rejection.  I loved to see how gradually she becomes more important than his secret, how for her he becomes social one more and even jealous of Ian.  Ian is also a great character, that I cannot hate when I knew instantly what his true nature his (my favourite supernal creature^^;;) he really wants to help but won’t admit it so  he acts arrogantly. (Typical from a frustrated alpha)

A wonderful story that I don’t regret reading at all. It could be a stand alone without problem but Kristen decided to make a series and the next book is coming soon with guess how? Yes Ian ^^ how could I resist to give it a try when the first book was so great? Fan of paranormal romance and steampunk or historical romance give it a try!

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Ce livre s'intègre dans le challenge de Natasia