THE VISCOUNT'S CHRISTMAS TEMPTATION by Erica Ridley

BOOK COVER

Title:  THE VISCOUNT'S CHRISTMAS TEMPTATION

Series:  Dukes of War #0.5

Author:  Erica Ridley

Publish Date:   11.01.14

Publisher:  Intrepid Reads

Category /Genre:  Regency Romance

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Received from:  Intrepid Reads via NetGalley (in exchange for an honest review)

Date completed: 10.22.14

Goodreads link: THE VISCOUNT'S CHRISTMAS TEMPTATION

Description from the publisher:

Certain individuals might consider Lady Amelia Pembroke a managing sort of female, but truly, most people would be lost without her help. Why, the latest on-dit is that rakish Viscount Sheffield is canceling the fête of the year because he hasn't time for silly soirees. He doesn't need time—he needs her!

When a flash of lightning destroys the venue for his family's annual Christmas ball, Lord Benedict Sheffield intends to enjoy a relaxing holiday for once. But after twelve days of beguiling Lady Amelia's guerrilla tactics, he's up to his cravat with tinsel . . . and tumbling head over heels in love.

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This is a prequel for the new Dukes of War series.  They will need to be read in order for best enjoyment, though each will stand on their own.

Lady Amelia Pembroke is able to run his brother’s home with ease.  For the sake of her brother, she determines that it is time she chooses a proper husband for herself.  Unfortunately, the venue she has chosen for meeting the tonne has been hit by lightning and the annual Sheffield Christmas ball has been cancelled.  With her customary determination, she decides that the ball must go on, and she lays siege first to Lord Sheffield’s soiree and then to his heart. 

As always, Erica Ridley delivers with humor and wit.  I love Lady Amelia.  She is brilliant, nurturing, reflective, and sweet.  Her single-minded determination is awe-inspiring and a little overwhelming (in a good way).  If she were a modern lady, she’d probably solve the Ebola problem and the ISIS situation in an afternoon and still have enough time off for a proper tea!

A huge thank you to Intrepid Reads for sharing this book with me through NetGalley.  I hope they will continue to allow me to read, review, and love Erica Ridley’s wonderful stories.  One more month until the next book in this series. Who needs a countdown to Christmas?  I’ll be counting down for each book as it comes out.

Grammar/editing:  A – near perfect

The Dukes of War series:

1. The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation
2. The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower (coming 12.01.14)
3. The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress (coming 2015)
4. The Major’s Faux Fiancée (coming soon)
5. The Brigadier’s Runaway Bride (coming soon)
6. The Duke’s Accidental Wife (coming soon)

Other Books from Erica Ridley:

• Too Wicked to Kiss
• Too Sinful to Deny
• Charmed
• Midwinter Magic
• Let It Snow
• Dark Surrender

AMAZON

SAVING GRACE by Scarlett Jade

Title:  SAVING GRACE

Series:  Wild Rose #1

Author:  Scarlett Jade

Publish Date:   10.27.14

Publisher:  Beau Coup LLC

Category /Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Received from:  Scarlett Jade (in exchange for an honest review)

Date completed: 10.27.14

Goodreads link: SAVING GRACE  

Description from the publisher:

The rule was simple—don't fall in love with a student. Drake had never had that problem—not until he met the buxom brunette in the bar. Grace was one of a kind, virginal but far from chaste. When she wanted him to teach more than history, he was left with a choice that could ruin them both.

Grace was always the good girl, until she met her wild best friend, Christina, who pushed her out of her shell. She fell head over heels for the sexy, young college professor, but when everything shattered around her, she was left with figuring out who she really was. Her journey led her somewhere she never imagined, but along the way she learned that even the wildest roses have to put down roots in a place called home.

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This is the first book in the Wild Rose series.  They will need to be read in order.
 

Grace is not a typical preacher’s daughter.  She is not a wild-child trying to prove herself… or she wasn’t, as long as she was in high school.  Now in college, she is ready to find herself.  With the help of her roommate, Christina, Grace begins to test her wings.  She learns to accept her BBW curves, accentuate them, and feel more confident.  She first meets Drake in a bar, and a couple of days later finds out that he is her history professor.  They try to deny their attraction to prevent the scandal that would be sure to follow, but some flames burn too brightly to be ignored.

OK, I’m going to tip-toe here, because I absolutely do not want to spoil this for anyone.  I loved this story.  So much that I forgot to pay attention to the time passing on the treadmill and kept on walking.  So much that I didn’t want to sleep.  So much that when sleep claimed me, I picked it back up immediately upon waking.  Grace is every girl… or maybe I just recognize me as a girl.  She is beautiful and bright.  She is unsure, but curious. Add in the impetuousness of youth and she is a volatile little firecracker ready to burst into her own womanhood.

There is not a cliff-hanger, but you will be screaming for the next book when you finish.  I’ve already given her my two-cents worth, privately because I refuse to spoil the surprise for you, dear reader.  Bottom line:  YES, you want to read this book!  My suggestion is buy it first thing in the morning, hang the Do Not Disturb sign, and order pizza for dinner.

Grammar/editing:  ungraded – book received as an unedited ARC / errors excused

The Wild Rose series:

1. Saving Grace
2. Finding Christina (coming soon)
3. Raising Cain (coming soon)

Other Books from Scarlett Jade:

• Beautiful Downfall
• Cherry Tart
• Two Tickets to Paradise
• Fantasies of a Housewife
• Breathing in the Snowflakes (coming soon)

Rhythm of the Heart Series:

1.       September Tango

2.       November Foxtrot

3.       February Waltz

Just a Little Taste Series:

1.       Love at First Bite

2.       Once Bitten, Twice Shy

3.       Third Time’s a Charm

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BLAZE OF GLORY by Mandy M. Roth

Title:  BLAZE OF GLORY

Series:  Cowboys and Supernaturals #1

Author:  Mandy M. Roth

Publish Date:   09.08.11

Publisher:  Raven Books

Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Received from:  Mandy M. Roth (in exchange for an honest review)

Date completed: 10.22.14

Goodreads link: BLAZE OF GLORY

Description from the publisher:

Sheriff Jonathan MacSweeny is in charge of keeping the peace in Prospect Springs. Frontier living isn’t what it used to be. It’s hard to survive in the New Old West and it’s even harder when your area doesn’t exactly embrace supernaturals—and you howl at the moon. That being said, he’s good at his job and has a reputation with the ladies. When he learns his childhood sweetheart is to be married off to the town sleazebag, he goes in guns blazing to see to it she’s his. Problem is, Molly isn’t the same girl he remembers from ten years prior. Now she’s a gun-toting, foul-mouthed, vixen with a badge of her own.

Special Marshal Molly Cogan never planned to set foot back in Prospect Springs. When her friend gets the harebrained idea to steal her identity in an attempt to protect her from the bounty the outlaws have on her head, Molly finds herself standing right smack dab in the middle of chaos—or home in her case. It isn’t long before Jonathan is there, flashing that famous MacSweeny boy smile and tempting her in ways she wasn’t prepared for. This heart-hardened Marshal has her work cut out for her if she plans to face her past fears and her past sweetheart.

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This is the first book in the Prospect Springs Shifters series.  I believe they will need to be read in order.

Molly Cogan ran from Prospect Springs ten years ago.  Then she was a woman with no rights, owned by her father until he gave her to a husband who would then own her.  Now Molly is a Special Marshall with a bounty on her head placed by those she would seek to bring to justice.  She had no plans to return the Springs, but when her friend, Lynette, puts her own life to free her, Molly has no choice but to follow and protect her.  One word and she knows she has once again been brought close to the one man she thought she could love.  Jonathan MacSweeney, sheriff of Prospect Springs and werewolf.  He will protect his mate, Molly, who he marked ten years ago, though she doesn’t know it.  Knowing her father has promised her to the town’s wealthiest lecherous old man, Jon knows he must ride into town and prevent the wedding and claim his mate, even if it means revealing his status as a shifter.

What a unique world Mandy Roth has created!  This is steam-punk meets supernatural romance meets space exploration in a future age where women are chattel once again.  Supernatural beings are known to exist and, legally, pack law supersedes the laws of man, but the supers are the subject of discrimination.  This story is funny, witty, and romantic… just what I love.

I was invited to join a group on Facebook for lovers of Ms. Roth’s books based on my love of paranormal romance even though I had never read one of her books.  So, this is the first book I received as part of that group.  I had no idea what to expect that there would be shifters.  If someone had asked me, “Do you want to read about space-traveling werewolves?  Oh, and it’s steampunk and misogynist…”  You know I would have said, “pass.”  Instead, I received it as a blind date and I am so glad that I did.  I really want to read the next book in this series.  Plus, at the end, there are a previews of SOLO TU from Mandy Roth and SAPPHIRE from Michelle Pillow that look amazing, too!  Expect me to be providing more reviews from the backlist of Mandy Roth.

Grammar/editing:  A – near perfect

The Prospect Springs Shifters series:

1. Blaze of Glory
2. Parker’s Honor
3. Clockwork Law (coming soon)
4. The Inventor’s Promise (coming soon)
5. Gabe’s Fortune (coming soon)

Other Books from Mandy M. Roth:

http://www.mandyroth.com/full-book-list/

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