The Truth About Love and Dukes by Laura Lee Guhrke (Review)

I took a chance on The Truth About Love and Dukes by Laura Lee Guhrke. So, we have Miss Irene Deverill who owns a gossip sheet, and also rights a column Lady Trewlove. Lady Trewlove answers of the letters to lovelorn, and try to help them solve their problems. Irene ends up getting into a little trouble with helping a Dowager Duchess of Torquil,  and her son is not too happy. Now the Duke of Torquil is out to get Irene to fix the issue with his mother.

Oh my heavens. Usually I love hero, but I thought he was pompous and arrogant. That's being nice. I would choose other words, but it might get sensory. However, I LOVED Irene. She opinionated, and trying to fight the rights of women. Suffragist, such a dirty word to the old way of thinking. However, the world needs more people like Irene. In the story we see to ideologies clashing, because we have old way of thinking, and merging forward thinking. This causes conflict in the story, that makes you wonder if Henry (the Duke of Torquil) and Irene to see eye to eye. Also Henry battles with tradition, and that love can't be part of the picture. Laure Lee Guhrke does an amazing job with this time period, because this is the era where we have a lot of change. Sometimes I find that she might move a little slow; however, Irene is such a spitfire that you can't find it slowly. She's ready to start punching out the door, and Henry is willing to give her a fight. Overall, The Truth About Love and Dukes was pretty good read.

Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss

Rating:
4 1/2 Stars

The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis (Review)

I was able to read The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis. With the Wildstone series we get knew group with each group, so it would be easy to pick up any book in the series and you would be fine. In this story we meet Brynn Turner, and Kinsey Davis. They have known each other for like forever, and they were enemies. However, things are reveal that they are half-siblings.

They both have to overcome the past and move forward together. However, one of them doesn't know that they are related. There is a lot of secrets going on in the house, and Brynn has a few trust issues. Actually everyone in the house a bit of a trust issue. However, this was a pretty cute read. We have bonding that goes on with enemies to friends. We find romance between Brynn and Eli. Eli happens to be Kinsey's best friend. One of my favorite parts of the story was the journal entries from each of the girls about their summer camp experience, and I think gives light to why there is trust issue.

Overall, The Summer Deal was a pretty good read. I liked the characters a lot more than the previous book. I feel like I want to go back to Wildstone after this story, and see could happen.

Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss

Rating:
4 Stars

Audiobook Review: Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

The last couple of books were rough. I wasn't sure I wanted to finished the series. I'm glad I did, because this one was worth it. We finally got Russell Hankleburg's story. He did go a little AWOL in the series. However, he's out to find Han. Yet, he's not the only one out for Han, Jia wants Han too. Jia is a were-tiger princess, who watched her family murder by Han.

I actually enjoyed Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire. I wasn't sure after the last couple of books, but this story made up for the last couple. Over the course of the series the tone of the series did change, but I did like the tidiness of this story. Kerrelyn was able to close up the loose ends of the story, and we were able to find out who's Han. Towards the middle I made a guess who Han was, and I waited and see who he was. By the way I was right. We watch a relationship blossom between Russell and Jia. We also see everyone get back together, I guess this was a good way to say goodbye to the gain. Overall, it was a pretty good listen. Even though there were some stories that weren't stellar they still helped move the story along, and I didn't feel like this a waste of time.

Copy provided by local library

Rating:
5 Stars

Audiobook Review: The Earl Takes a Fancy by Lorraine Heath

For the past few weeks I have decided to focus on the Sins for All Seasons series, and I have arrived at The Earl Takes A Fancy. The story focuses on Fancy Trewlove. She's about to take her season and marry a fancy man. However, Fancy also wants to find a true love like her siblings. Now Matthew Sommersby, the Earl of Rosemont, is taken aback when he found out that his deceased wife sent out a letter that sent into hiding.

The Earl Takes a Fancy was a wonderful listen. Her family has wants the best for Fancy, because she's their favorite sister. She's intrigued with the Earl of Rosemont after reading the article, but he has gone into hiding. Matthew Sommersby is interested in Fancy, but he doesn't want to be trapped in another loveless marriage. When he meets Fancy he pretends to be ordinary man. They become friends, and eventually evolves into more. However, Fancy is stuck with a notion that she must marry a title man, yet her heart yearns for Matthew.

We watch Fancy have her season, and struggle. Deep down I know she gets her happy ending, but towards the end I had a little panic attack. There were times I had to stop towards the end, and my husband looked at me oddly. It's okay, I'm use to it. Anyway, there were a a couple of moments that I was a little stress, but Lorraine does that to me. Overall, it was a pretty good story. I'm ready for Beast's story. Thank you for taking time to hear me ramble.

Copy provided by local library

Rating:
4 1/2 Stars

Audiobook Review: How to Seduce a Vampire (Without Really Trying) by Kerrelyn Sparks

Let me start by saying it's probably a good thing that I listened to How to Seduce a Vampire (Without Really Trying), because I would probably would have stopped. I was so close to the end of the series. The story had a lot of potential with Zoltan Czakvar. Zoltan could talk to animals, and he was funny about it in previous story. There is still some humor, but we didn't see that as much. Then he stumbles upon a secret association of women, which they are trying to protect the dragons. He meets Neona, she's daughter of the queen of their group.

I struggled with this story, and I was listening to it too. There were points I had to stop go, "Okay, I'm done for today." I would get frustrated with Neona basically saying there are to be no men in Beyul-La. I felt that book was there to give Zoltan a love interest, and it kind of moved the plot forward. However, I probably could have skipped this one. There are some things that helped with some situations in the story, but I would have survived without them. Now its time to get to the end of the series.

Copy provided by local library

Rating:
2 Stars

The Scoundrel in Her Bed by Lorraine Heath (Review)

I got a chance to take a look at The Scoundrel in Her Bed by Lorraine Heath. That Trewlove family is pretty awesome. Now we get to know Finn a little more. Okay Lady Lavinia Kent was the one who stood up the Duke of Thornley. She's been on the run for sometime. However, Lavinia and Finn have a history together.

When they first met Lavinia was a spoiled daughter of an earl, and Finn a commoner. However, they started a friendship that had to be secreted. They started to fall for one another. Her father found out and put a stop, which cost Finn quite a bit. Now Finn and Lavinia have to work on repairing the relationship.

I enjoyed The Scoundrel in Her Bed, because we got the flashbacks on how their relationship was blossoming. Sometimes things have to come to an end, they were left bitter about one another. However, they didn't know the whole truth. Towards the end Lavinia was being selfish, but Finn was willing to let her see for herself. I'm glad it worked out in the end. Overall, was a pretty good story.

Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss

Rating:
4 1/2 Stars

When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath (Review)

I finally got a chance to take a look at When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath. I'm really loving this series. We get to hang out with Gillie Trewlove in this story, and she happens to put a Duke into his place. We get to know the Duke of Thornley. His pride was severely hurt, so he went hunting for his runaway bride. Which he ends up getting accosted by thugs, but fortunately Gillie was near by to save hime.

Anyway, the story progress when Thorne is recovered, and he asks Gillie to help him find his fiancé. As they journey about Whitechapel he finds himself drawn to her more than his bride to be. However, he's trying to figure out if love is worth more or if he should honor his father's dying wish. It would be hard to marry Gillie after all she has a few marks against her: 1. She was born on the wrong side of the blanket. 2. She's a tavern owner. I'm sure we can make the list go on. However, she's a the best sort of person to have in your corner.

When a Duke Loves a Woman definitely a good read. I love that Gillie was strong woman that she didn't need a man to rescue her. I mean her brothers meant well towards the end, but it would have been awkward. I'm glad Thorne realized he needed Gillie.

Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss

Rating:
5 Stars

Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain (Review)

I have to say that Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain is a cute read. Those who like their historical romance reads to be accurate might want to take a pass on this story. However, if you are looking for something light and kind of fluffy, you might enjoy Mr. Malcolm's List.

Okay we have Jeremy Malcolm who has a list of what he wants in a wife. He plans to stick with it. However, his friends sister took offense to not being even worthy to garner his attention that she cooks up a plan to use one of her friends to take down Mr. Malcolm. This is where we meet Selina Dalton. Selina is a vicar's daughter, which makes her unlikely to deceive Mr. Malcolm. Actually, she wasn't a big fan of the plan from the beginning.

Mr. Malcolm was pompous, but he did feel something for Selina. However, Julia tried to play fast on loose with her friendship with Selina, and almost cost Selina everything. I felt that Selina was a pawn throughout the book, and I felt bad for her.

Overall, I liked the story, and it's definitely not for everyone. When I opened my thoughts, those who are wanting more close to historical accurate aren't going to like this story. If you are looking for something that is light, you found it in Mr. Malcolm's List.

Copy provided by Berkley via NetGalley

Rating:
4 Stars