~Only With Your Love~Lisa Kleypas

This is the second to Only in Your Arms and is the story of sons of Maximillien Vallerand, Philippe and Justin.

Philippe is returning to Louisiana with his wife Celia, but they are attacked by pirates, and Philippe is killed and thrown overboard in front of his wife. Celia is resuced by Captin Griffin who is rough with her and ends up taking her virute. He eventually delivers her to her in-laws the Vallerands, and makes a shocking discovery, that Captin Griffin is Justin, brother to her dead husband.

Justin and Celia develop feelings, and Justin begins to change his rough ways, but others stand in the way, some wants justice for Justin's being a pirate, but can the Vallerand's save him? His father wants him to become his brother so he may stay safe, but will he be able to pull it off?

A great story, I did not enjoy it asw much as the first book.

Only in Your Arms ~ Lisa Kleypas

I read the book titled Only in Your Arms, but it was re-published under the title When Strangers Marry which I think is a better title.

Lysette is on her way to New Orleans to marry a man she loathes, but her stepfather has arranged the marriage which her mother, sister and aunt all inform her she has no choice but to do her duty and marry this man. Lysette arrives to find the man more appalling then she remembered and decides to run away. Lysette does not get very far when she is discovered by twin brothers Justin and Phillipe, who hand her over to their father Maximillien Vallerand.

Lysette begs them to not return her and once Max realizes who she is to wed his mortal enemy he agrees she can stay, and he quickly realizes he can use her to seek revenge. Max confides this to his mother and ask her to organize a wedding for him and Lysette. Max's mother is against the marriage, but knows she will not be able to stop her son, but she will let Lysette know that Max is suspected of murdering his first wife, Corrine Vallerand.

The enjoyed the love story of Max and Lysette, and the great mystery and suspense of what happened to his first wife and why she was a pawn in this revenge game. I normally do not read many novels written about early American, but I do enjoy stories based in the great city of New Orleans. I will begin the next book which is Only With Your Love which is based on Max's two son's.

Prince of Darkness ~ Sharon Kay Penman

The last book on Justin de Quincey, or maybe not but is currently last book. Lady Claudine summons Justin on behalf of Prince John who needs his assistance. Justin is upset but he is the Queen's Man and believes she would want him to assist John. Someone is plotting against Prince John they claim that they have a letter where he has planned to kill his brother Richard, he needs Justin's help in proving the document is a forgery. Justin and Durand set out to prove John's innocence, but stumble upon dead monks and a lady who is deeply involved in this conspiracy against John. Immediately suspicion falls on Justin and Durand when they are discovered with the bodies, they quickly invent a story to get away. The plot thickens as to who you can trust and who is behind the murders.

Another great blend of secondary characters I loved how finally Justin was partnered with his nemesis, Durand who unknown to John is loyal to the Queen, and in the prvious books there was lots of tension between these two, but to see how they come together to unravel the plot against John is great.

I hope she writes another story with this great characters.

Brave the Wild Wind ~ Johanna Lindsey

I don't read a lot of stories that take place in America, but this challenge read a book that took place in Montana and this one in Wyoming and I did not realize until halfway through, I had it marked as part of a series. When Kenneth Jesse Blair was born his father could not have been happier until a few weeks later the midwife finally admitted the baby was a girl, and the baby became known as Jessie. Raised by her father alone since he beat her mother almost to death when he found her with a man. Jessie was raised as the son he never had and was taught to despise her mother she runs the ranch better then most men, and when her father dies her father makes her mother guardian over her and comes to the ranch to live for awhile with her son Billy and friend Chase Summers.

Jessie is not happy with her mother's interference or this Chase person. Jessie, runs away to her Indian friends they have always been kind and treated her as a woman. Chase nor her mother are happy about her association with the Indians and Chase goes to find her and bring her home. There is an attraction between these two and Chase finds himself falling into love with her. Jessie makes it clear that neither him nor her mother are wanted there and wishes they would leave, but they both love her and want to help her, but how do they convince her of that.

This is a different story and some surprises along the way the book in some places I would rate a 2 and others 5+, I enjoyed Jessie's story and her heartache. I rate this book a 4.

The Wedding ~ Julie Garwood

This book is the 2nd book of a series, but can be read alone. Alec and Jamie Kincaid are secondary characters in this story. Lady Brenna and Connor MacAlister first met when she was a little girl and at that time proposed to him. Brenna is on her way from England to Scotland to marry a man she has never met, Connor's enemy. Connor has been seeking revenge for his father's death and plans to intercept his bride since she proposed to him when she young. When Connor arrives she stands her ground and will not leave to marry him, but he lives choice in order to save her father's men who were guarding her she agrees to marry him.
Connor and Brenna do not see eye to eye on how a wife she act, I enjoy how Brenna constantly defies him and does as she pleases all the while she is also eager to please her husband, his staff, his men and even his stepmother. Connor is a strong and keeps his feelings deep inside he lost his mother when he was young and new the heartache his father suffered from the loss. He attempts to keep Brenna `in line' but in the end always relents.
His two trusted men Quinlan and Crispin are great and seem to enjoy the way Brenna does not back down from their laird. Brenna is looking forward to arriving at her new home and meeting her step mother, who Connor is also excited to see her. Brenna is shocked to see how her new home looks, and sets out to make things look more like a home, but her stepmother and her son have other ideas they set out to destroy all her plans and make her feel inferior in her own home, instead of seeking her husbands assistance she takes matters into her own hands and things go from bad to worse.A great love story with some great secondary characters, I enjoyed the humor in the story and Brenna's determination to win Connor over.

Charming the Prince ~ Teresa Medeiros

Story begins in 1347 England with a young and eager Lady Willow of Bedlington waiting by her father’s side for his new wife Lady Blanche and her new mother. Willow has always wanted a mother to love and is certain Lady Blanche will be excited to have a daughter. Lady Blanche finally arrives, but no alone to Willow’s surprise she already has children of her own. Willow is not at all welcomed into the blended family she is out casted by her stepmother and her new brothers and sisters treat her horribly.

It is now 1360 in England and Sir Bannor the Bold has returned from the war with father of 12 motherless children he sends out his trusted friend to find a woman who likes children, but is homely looking so he want be lured into her bed to produce more children. He returns with Lady Willow who is not at all homely but beautiful. Willow had been without love for so long she yearns for her prince and wants Bannor to be him.

Willow learns of his reputation fathering several children out of wedlock and does not believe he will ever truly love her. Willow is determined to have the love of her husband all to herself so she seeks out the town whore for assistance.

Willow bonds with the children, and with their help tries to capture Bannor’s heart, but is disappointed when yet another baby arrives at the castle who Bannor claims as his own. What can Willow do to win his heart? A nice heartwarming book really enjoyed the theme and the children. 4 Stars

Kiss the Bride ~ Patricia Cabot

We begin in London, 1832 the heroine Emma Van Court wants to marry Stuart Chesterton, a very religious minded man. Emma intends to make her plans known to James Marbury, Earl of Denham. James is not all happy about the idea of Emma marrying his cousin. He does not believe Stuart will be able to support them. Emma gets no support from her family either to be married to a curator so her and Stuart elope and move to Scottish Hebrides.

When James receives word that Stuart died six months ago he immediately goes to Scotland to arrange for his remains to be returned to London. When James arrives he finds Emma barely making a living as a school teacher. Emma is distraught over James coming to remove her husband’s remains she persuades him to return to London. While James returns to the town to have a meal he soon learns that the man that killed Stuart left in his will a large sum of money to Emma once she marries again. He pays her a visit at the school to find a man trying to force her into marriage. James comes to her rescue and spends the night at her home.

The next day he decides to call out this man, when they arrive at his run down castle he finds Emma already there and she comes between the two men, after some arguing James offers to marry her for protection and tells her in private once she has her money she can have an annulment.

The events happen quickly the book is a fast enjoyable read. I also discovered halfway through the book that Patricia Cabot writes as Meg Cabot the young adult author. I enjoyed the book and give it 4 Stars and look forward to reading her other novels

The Judas Kiss Victoria Holt

Victoria Holt not a new author she has written books for many years and this is the 2nd book I have read that she wrote. I enjoyed this story which begins with Phillipa (Pippa) Ewell finding a newspaper clipping and discovering her sister Francine was murdered. The story returns to the girls childhood and we learn they lived on their parents on an island after his father left his home when he pursued being an artist which was against his father's wishes. The girls parents died close together and since they had no where to go they were returned to their father's home Greysone Manor.

The grandfather welcomes the girls but has strict requirements for their upbringing as he did their father and his sister. Francine soon learns she is wed her cousin Arthur who is a man of the church and he will also inherit the home. Francine rants to Pippa she will never marry him she will leave first, she does not have long and a family that visits periodically shows up to open their home for a visit the girls decide to investigate the family who is German and they are discovered in the home. The girls are welcomed and invited to the a ball they will be hosting. The sisters begin to scheme on making a dress for Francine and getting her to the ball in secret. The plan works and Francine enjoys herself and meets a wonderful man who she decides to run away with to avoid marring her cousin.

Pippa receives a letter from Francine describing her quick marriage at a local church, and another letter detailing the birth of her son. Since her sister abandoned her duties at Greystone Manor Pippa learns her grandfather plans for her to marry Arthur now. Pippa has learned of her sister's death and decides she must also leave. Pippa is out walking the grounds when she discovers the neighbors will be visiting again soon and she meets Conrad who traveled ahead he sweeps he off her feet and he knows of her sisters murder she tells him of her marriage and child which Conrad explains that she could have never married nor was there a child.

With everything Pippa has recently discovered she makes plans to leave and discover the truth of what happened to her sister and her child The novel has great suspense and a wonderful story that keep me up reading.

My rating 4 stars.

Montana Debbie Macomber

Molly Cogan single mom of 2 boys Clay and Tom living in CA in the big city was under the stress of her ex-husbands being in jail no child support his trial, her son’s disobedience and then a phone call from a Sam Dakota a foreman on her grandfather’s ranch in MT the Broken Arrow, to tell her his health is bad and has little time.

With no money, Molly decides to sell everything she owns and moves to Montana. When she arrives at the ranch she is shock to see the beloved home she once loved run down. Her grandfather was never the same after her grandmother Molly (who she was named after) died. Her grandfather who also looks bad does not let on anything is wrong with his help.

Molly soon discovers that some things have been damaged on the ranch and the sheriff is pointing fingers at Sam. She is not crazy over Sam anyway but her grandfather and boys adore him. Molly does not believe her grandfather looked into his references enough before he hired him, but he assures her he is a fine man.

In town there is a prostitute named Pearl who is having a private affair with a lawyer Russell, but she unfortunately involved with some shady characters, the same who are also wrecking havoc over at the Broken Arrow.

Molly is shocked when her grandfather insists she marry Sam, he even offers him a type of dowry land and cattle. Molly is furious that he would suggest marriage to a man she barely knows.

Enjoyed the mystery of the story, the storyline between Molly and Sam was lacking in the love department. Pearl and Russell what little was mentioned had a much better love story, enjoyed the twist at the end was not expecting that.

Midnight Bride Susan Carroll

The third and final book in the St. Leger Series. The story focuses on the youngest twin son of Anatole and Madeline St. Leger, Dr. Valentine "Val" St. Leger born on Valentines Day. He has a gift that enable him to draw pain from others, but when he used this on his twin brother he was not able to control the power and it left him crippled. Val was told by the bride finder Effie Fitzleger that he did not have a chosen bride, although he was disappointed he accepted his fate never to marry.

Kate Fitzleger, adopted daughter of Effie was in love with Val he was her teacher, friend, and confidante and she knew in her heart that she would marry Val. Kate was shocked when Val turned her down, she was so broken-hearted she knew what she had to do. Kate took it upon herself to visit the ghost of the St. Leger's, Prospero St. Leger in hopes to cast a love spell on Val. Although, Kate new the warnings of marrying a St. Leger that was not chosen by the bride finder would mean death for her, but Kate was sure that was a myth. Kate took a book of spells against Prospero's warnings and chose All Hallows Eve to cast her spell. That night the lightening flashed and thunder roared, and unknown to Kate many things changed.

What happens to Val becomes a mystery to Kate, he was always so kind and thoughtful but now has this dark side that she cannot explained. In another part of the country the family rival Rafe Mortmain has also been affected somehow his dark side has gone, and he now has feelings that he cannot explain. Victor a cousin of Val who has never even looked at Kate is now crazy in love with her. Kate is so distraught over this she seeks out the ghost Prospero again who explains she will have to wait for 30 days before she can undo the spell on these men.

The story is so fast paced, you cannot wait to read what happens next. This book was a great read, but the first story is still my favorite of the three.

The Night Drifter - Susan Carroll

I could not wait to read the 2nd book of The Bride Finder series this book begins with the two of the children from our main characters in book one, Lancelot the eldest twin son and heir has returned from the war and his parents are away and he is left in charge. Lance would rather not have these responsibilities, but oldest son it is his responsibility. The story begins with the loss of the St. Leger Bride Sword - a priceless family heirloom that gets passed on to the brides found for St. Leger men by the Bride Finder.

Lance, like most St Leger family he also has a power which is to separate his soul from his mortal body and night drift. Thinking this a great way to search for the stolen sword he happens upon a young widow Rosalind, who believes him to be Sir Lancelot de Luc of King Arthur's Round Table. Rather than let her know the truth he plays along with her and tells her he is looking for a missing sword, which is part truth.

Rosalind visits Effie Fitzleger, granddaughter of the original Bride Finder Lance shows up with his brother Val to seek her assistance in finding a bride for Val. Effie is hit with a feeling for a bride not for Val, but for Lance, who happens to be Rosalind. She does not recognize Lance as her nightly apparition and wants no part of this reputed St. Leger rakehell.

Lance decides to continue as Sir Lancelot at night in order to convince her to give Lance St. Leger a chance to redeem himself during the day.

Susan Carroll develops another mystery, and explores into the ghost Prospero, I believe his the remainder of his story will come out in the last book. Carroll has given us a new plot with interesting characterizations, but the book was enjoyable and I liked the characters, but somewhat slower then the first book. Eager to story book three.

And Only To Deceive Tasha Alexander

The story is set in 1890’s Victorian London and tells the story of socialite Lady Emily Ashton who marry Phillip only to get away from her overbearing mother. Not long after they are married Phillip dies from an illness during an expedition to Africa. Emily knows very little about her husband and is unaffected by his death. Almost two years later she receives Phillip’s journals she learns her husband was an antiquities collector and apparently loved his new wife deeply.

Emily is her own woman and does not care to do as society dictates, learning that her husband was a scholar she decides to read some of his books and begins to learn more of ancient Greece. Phillip collected many antiques and donated them to museums for everyone to enjoy, but when Emily visits their country estate she finds the originals that she thought was in the museum. She cannot accept the horrible truth that he husband may have been a forger. Two of his friends who are also courting her now become suspects, but which one helped Phillip in his deception or his donations.

She soon learns that Phillip may not have died in Africa, so she sets out to uncover the truth.

The novel was a quick read, the story predictable, but I enjoyed the characters and the plot and the language. I give it 4 Stars.

This book reminds me of a scrapebook. The story is told only by letters, diary/journal entries, documents, and later on e-mails.
You follow the two best friends Jillian and Lesley from the day are born all the way up until 2002.

You will experience everything 2 best friends experience from their first date, birth of their own children and even their parents/spouses death. Also the historical events from the civil rights movement to the 9/11 tragedy, and their feelings on the issues.

From the first page to the last page I enjoyed it, I felt as I was their friend too. I was reading this book every chance I got.

First time author for me, look forward to reading her other novels.

This was a wonderful story of love and sacrifice. Lady Sarah is in love with Justin Tolbert. Circumstances separate them, Justin is off to war and Lady Sarah goes after her sister Amelia.

Lady Sarah watches her sister die giving birth to an illegitimate son, Andrew. The shame her sister felt at having a child out of wedlock was so great that on her deathbed she made Sarah promise to never reveal the secret of Andrew's birth to anyone.

Sarah returns home with the baby, and her promise to her sister will cost her dearly. Sarah writes to Justin to call of their engagement. Justin finally returns home after four years fighting in the war not only has he lost his fiancee, but his family estate and is debt and he lost the lower part of his leg.

Soon Justin meets up with Drew who is being tormented by other boys. Drew is quickly drawn to Justin and begins to think of him as a hero. Justin soon learns the reason why Sarah sent him the letter and is shocked that she is not married.

Sarah hates that she cannot be honest about Drew's mother, but she will not break her promise to her dear sister. She finally does offer to help Justin with the debt he inherited from his father and brother, but with a catch they must marry so he will become a role model for Drew.

I feel for Sarah and could not put the book down, I wanted her to tell Justin the truth, but I also admired her loyalty to protect her sisters memory.

I give this book: STARS

Scandal in Spring

This is the last story in the wallflower series. Daisy the youngest wallflower, and sister to Lillian, still has not had an offer in marriage. Her father gives her an ultimatum, if she does not find a husband within 2 months then she will marry an American Matthew Swift who works for her father's soap company.


Matthew is secretly in love with Daisy and has been for years and never dreamed he would have a chance with her, an American Heiress. Not only does he harbour a secret love for Daisy, but he has other secrets.

Daisy is totally caught off guard by Matthew her last memories of him were skinny, and not all attractive so when she encouters him by the wishing well she is overwhemled by his handsome looks. She is also torn by the fact her sister is not in agreement with the match.

Matthew's secrets soon catch up with him, will they be the end of him and Daisy, does she remain a wallfower. Don't miss reading the last book in the series.

This series only gets better and better with every book, I could not put this book down. The story of Evie and St Vincent was breathtaking.

Evie, who was raised by her dead mother’s family, will do anything to receive sanctuary and protection from their abuse and to visit her dying father, a notorious gaming club owner.

The hardened rake St. Vincent who was so desperate to marry for money that he kidnapped Evie’s wallflower friend Lillian in It Happened one Autumn, and failed. So why would Evie go to him? Well sometimes desperate situations, cause for desperate measures.

Evie goes to and ask St Vincent to marry her pronto, she pleads with him that she wants so badly to see her father but each time she attempts to escape to see him they bring her back and beat her. St Vincent who is dire need of funds agrees to the marriage, because when her father dies Evie will be a wealthy woman.

Well they say opposite’s attract and in this relationship they do more then that. Evie wants nothing further to do with St. Vincent after their wedding night she is afraid she will in fall and love with him and he will break her heart, but he does not want to let her go so easy. He escorts her to her fathers gaming club and realizes since his illness the club has been loosing money, so he quickly takes over and makes changes, and he begins to take more notice of Evie and begins to genuinely care for her. He decides he wants them to behave as husband and wife, well Evie is very reluctant to this and decides she will on one condition, and that is that he can remain
From having relations with other females and become monogamous.

Can St Vincent remain faithful to Evie? Who will be the first to break their deal? You will have to read and find out, if Evie is able to tame this rakish man into a loving faithful husband.

I give this book STARS