TEMPTATION OF A DUKE'S DAUGHTER by Samantha Holt

Title:  TEMPTATION OF A DUKE'S DAUGHTER
Series:  Duchess’s Investigative Society #2
Author:  Samantha Holt
Publisher:  Helstone Press
Publish Date:   06.07.2021
Category /Genre:  Historical Romance
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content.
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused.
Received from:  Samantha Holt
Goodreads link: Temptation of a Duke’s Daughter
Date completed: 06.04.2021
 
Description from the publisher:
Solving a murder is dangerous business. So is falling in love…

Lady Chastity will not stand idly by while her sister is suspected of murder. Since no one wants to help, she’ll take matters into her own hands. The plan? Simple. She’ll disguise herself as a servant and investigate. But when her ruse leads her to the enigmatic Lord Kendall, Chastity soon realizes nothing in her life will ever be simple again…

As much as Valentine would like to ignore the scheming beauty who claims to be a servant, he simply can’t. He needs her. Bringing his footman’s killer to justice would be impossible without her, because the vivacious Chastity can do what he can’t—talk to people and gain their trust. So, he’ll accept the chaos she brings into his life. Accepting her into his heart, however, is another matter entirely…

Fortunately for Chastity and Valentine, intrigue has a way of putting lovers on the path to happily ever after. But first, they’ve got a killer to catch…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TEMPTATION OF A DUKE'S DAUGHTER is the second book in Duchess’s Investigative Society series.  Though each book will stand on its own, I say you don’t want to miss this series.
 
I don’t know which held me more captive – the suspenseful mystery or the heart-thudding romance.  The sexual tension sparked off the page, and the verbal banter assures a lasting relationship that will be fun, flirty, and steamy for decades.
 
Lady Chastity isn’t afraid to do some unusual work to investigate this particular case and Lord Kendall has a personal stake in what would normally be beneath his notice.  Together they are wonderful characters. 
 
This was a delight to read – absolute entertainment as romance and intrigue came together.
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
The Duchess’s Investigative Society Series:
1.      Secrets of a Duke’s Daughter
2.      Temptations of a Duke’s Daughter
3.      Wagers of a Duke’s Daughter
Also from Samantha Holt:
·         The Angel’s Assassin
·         Buckle Down
·         Christmas Seduction
·         The Crimson Castle
·         Eden’s Fire
·         Heart of a Viking
·         Her Dream Cowboy
·         Her Highland Defender
·         How to Marry a Rake in Ten Days
·         Hunting His Highland Lass
·         Kissed at Midnight
·         Knight’s Captive
·         Love or Loyalty
·         Loving Her Highland Enemy
·         Must Love Lords
·         Not Another Soldier
·         Once Upon a Rake
·         The Rake Who Rescued Me
·         The Sexy Bartender’s Virtual Seduction
·         A Summer Siege
·         Tempting His Mistress  
·         Too Much to Lose
·         Warriors
·         The Warrior’s Reward
·         A Whole New Duke
Bluestocking Brides Series:
Lavinia and the Laird
1.      Amelia and the Viscount
2.      Julia and the Duke
3.      Emma and the Earl
4.      Catherine and the Marquis
5.      Lilith and the Stable Hand
Borderland Legacy:
1.      Borderland Bride
2.      Borderland Beauty
3.      Borderland Betrayal
Cynfell Brothers Series:
1.      Sinful Confessions
2.      Sinful Deeds
3.      Sinful Liaisons
4.      Sinful Cravings
5.      Sinful Possession
6.      Sinful Temptations
7.      Sinful Secrets
Highland Fae Chronicles:
1.      To Steal a Highlander’s Heart
2.      To Dream of a Highlander
3.      To Avenge Her Highland Warrior
The Inheritance Clause Series:
1.      There Are Plenty More Dukes in the Sea
2.      A Rake Never Changes His Spots
3.      Once a Wallflower, Always a Wallflower
4.      All’s Fair in Love and Debauchery
The Kidnap Club Series:
1.      Capturing the Bride
2.      Stealing the Heiress
3.      Taking the Spinster  
The Lords of Scandal Row Series:
1.      The Taming of a Wicked Rogue
2.      The Tempting of a Devilish Lord
3.      The Tantalizing of a Scandalous Rake
One Knight Collection:
1.      One Knight
2.      Black Knight
3.      White Knight
4.      Highland Knight
Regency Fairy Twists:
1.      Wake Me with a Kiss
2.      The Beast Who Loved Me
3.      Dance with Me at Midnight
Rogues of Redmere Series:
1.      You’re the Rogue that I Want
2.      When a Rogue Loves a Woman
3.      Waiting for a Rogue Like You
4.      What’s a Rogue Got to Do with It?
Spinsters Club Series:
1.      Gentlemen Prefer Spinsters
The Wallflower Brides Series:
1.      Married to the Rake
2.      Married to the Lord 
3.      Married to the Earl
 

AMAZON-US
BOOKBUB
 

BORROWED TIME by L.A. Boruff

Title:  BORROWED TIME
Series:  Prime Time of Life #1
Author:  L.A. Boruff
Publisher:  L.A. Boruff
Publish Date:  04.30.2021
Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Recommended for:  18+
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused.
Received from:  L.A. Boruff
Goodreads link: Borrowed Time
Date completed: 06.05.2021
 
Description from the publisher:
Rowena Butler never asked to be a time-traveling witch assassin.

Turning forty isn’t as exciting as most people think. There are no fireworks or surprise parties, and I definitely didn’t get hitched overnight. Been there, got the divorce papers to prove it. Nope, none of that.

My welcome to midlife started with being sucked back in time to the 90s.

And that set off a whirlwind.

The one thing my birth mom tried to save me from has caught up with me. I’m the next time-traveling witch assassin.

Don’t get excited, the job comes with a lot of learning curves, mishaps, and having to actually assassinate people. But don’t worry, the people I have to hunt down deserve their karma.

And at least I have a pixie guide through all this. It could be worse. I could still be working retail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BORROWED TIME is the first book in the Prime Time of Life series.  This series will need to be read in the order of release.
 
Since I actually lived through the 90s (and earlier) this was a great bit of nostalgia for me.  Back to my Future!!
 
This is easy to read, but great fun, funny, snarky, and unique set-up.  Excellent characters kept the wonderful plot moving along and kept me intrigued.
 
A perfect start to a new series.  I’m glad I’m here at the beginning and I’m looking forward to more from Ro and her friends.
 
Now excuse me while I go contemplate the fact that the 90s is going back nearly 30 years in the past and I was already in my 30s at the time (wahhhhh!).
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 

Prime Time of Life Series:

1.      Borrowed Time

2.      Stolen Time

3.      Just in Time

Also from L.A. Boruff:

Academy’s Rise Series:

1.      Hell Fire

2.      Dark Water

3.      Dead Air

Fanged After Forty Series:

1.      Bitten in the Midlife

Lucifer’s War Series:

1.      Devil’s Consort

2.      Devil’s Assassin

Magical Midlife in Mystic Hollow Series:

1.      Karma’s Spell 

2.      Karma’s Shift  

3.      Karma’s Spirit

Shifting into Midlife Series:

1.      Pack Bunco Night

Witching After Forty Series:

1.      A Ghoulish Midlife

1.1 Cookies for Satan

1.2 I’m with Cupid

2.      A Cursed Midlife

2.1 Feeding Them Will Make Them Grow (Anthology)

2.7 A Girlfriend for Mr. Snoozerton

3.      A Haunting Midlife  

4.      An Animated Midlife (coming soon)

5.      A Killer Midlife (coming soon)

 

AMAZON-US
BOOKBUB
 

A HAUNTING MIDLIFE by L.A. Boruff & Lia Davis

Title:  A HAUNTING MIDLIFE
Series:  Witching After Forty #3
Author:  L.A. Boruff & Lia Davis
Publisher:  L.A. Boruff
Publish Date:  05.25.2021
Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Recommended for:  18+
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused.
Received from:  L.A. Boruff
Goodreads link: A Haunting Midlife
Date completed: 05.28.2021
 
Description from the publisher:
Ava Harper may be a raiser of the dead and a not-so-famous author, but she isn’t vampire hunter. Not even close.

With the decision made to stay in Shipton Harbor, Ava Harper returns to the home she shared with her deceased husband in Pennsylvania to put it on the market. But saying goodbye to the memories of the home they raised their son in is a lot harder than it had sounded in her head.

In the months she’s been in Shipton, new neighbors moved in across the street from her Philly home. Now, Ava has nothing against vampires. But when people in the neighborhood start turning up with bite marks and Uncle Wade goes missing, she can’t help but to check into the newbies in the hood.

One of the fanged ones isn't happy with Ava poking around and tries to scare her off the case. But he is no match for two necromancers, a tiger-ghoul, and a sheriff/hunter.

And now, as if dealing with how the sheriff makes her knees weak isn’t bad enough, the house she is trying to sell is haunted.

Just another day in Ava’s life at this point.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A HAUNTING MIDLIFE is the seventh book in the Witching After Forty series.  It is best to read them all and in the order of release.
 
“Then I left the bedroom to go finish packing the last-minute items, leaving my old flame and my new flame hanging in a bedroom with my undead uncle.  And Satan.  Just a normal day, really.”  I highlighted this just because it pretty much defined the craziness that is Ava’s life.
 
In a way, Ava is very lucky, she gets one last visit with her dead husband…. Errr… his ghost.  She didn’t mean to trap him in the old house.  Her love for him was just that strong.  Packing up the old house in Philadelphia to make the move to Shipton Cove final and official is a big step for Ava and her gathered flock/family.  Of course even this becomes an adventure.
 
This is a story of closure, love, and great connections to family and friends – new and old.  The emotions are strong and I felt so many parallels to my own wishes (yes, I wish I could talk to my ex).
 
Just when you think it’s over – the house is all packed up – Lucifer delivers a “gift…” that leads to a cliffhanger…. worth it!
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Witching After Forty Series:
1.      A Ghoulish Midlife
1.1 Cookies for Satan
1.2 I’m with Cupid
2.      A Cursed Midlife
2.1 Feeding Them Will Make Them Grow (Anthology)
2.7 A Girlfriend for Mr. Snoozerton
3.      A Haunting Midlife
4.      An Animated Midlife (coming soon)
5.      A Killer Midlife (coming soon)
Also from L.A. Boruff:
Academy’s Rise Series:
1.      Hell Fire
2.      Dark Water
3.      Dead Air
Fanged After Forty Series:
1.      Bitten in Midlife
Lucifer’s War Series:
1.      Devil’s Consort
2.      Devil’s Assassin
Magical Midlife in Mystic Hollow Series:
1.      Karma’s Spell 
2.      Karma’s Shift  
3.      Karma’s Spirit
Prime Time of Life Series:
1.      Borrowed Time
2.      Stolen Time
3.      Just in Time
Shifting into Midlife Series:
1.      Pack Bunco Night
 

 

AMAZON-US
BOOKBUB
 

LIVING AT 40 by L.B. Dunbar

Title:  LIVING AT 40
Series:  Lakeside Cottage #1
Author:  L.B. Dunbar
Publisher:  L.B. Dunbar Writes, Ltd.
Publish Date:   05.20.2021
Category /Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content.
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC.
Received from:  L.B. Dunbar
Goodreads link: Living at 40
Date completed: 05.17.2021
 
Description from the publisher:
Is it an accidental pregnancy, if it’s purposefully planned?

Autumn Kulis wants a baby. It’s that simple and that complicated because one thing stands in her way - she doesn’t have a man in her life. And at almost forty, she isn’t getting any younger. On a two-week trip to her brother’s lakeside cottage, a plan forms. Make a list of three men. Sleep with each of them. Allow nature to take its course. Only, a certain someone gets in her way.


Logan Anders goes with the flow of life. Divorced, single dad, he works hard, and occasionally plays harder. When his college roommate invites him to Lakeside Cottage for two weeks, he hadn’t remembered his best friend’s little sister being so hot. Nor was he a fan of her plan to find a baby daddy. He’s determined to make her list then tear it to shreds leaving him the only man horizontal with her.


When we were forty, we had so much life to live, and a simple proposition could be the start of a second chance at really living.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LIVING AT 40 is the first book in the Lakeside Cottage series.  Each will stand on its own, but I strongly recommend reading them in the order of release.
 
I loved this story.  These are long time friends (and family by choice) living an emotional reunion. 
 
One of the best things about this book is the characters.  They may all be about the same age, but they are not in the same places maturity-wise.  This is REAL.  Plus, when we get back together with people we knew when we were in (high school, college, 20 years ago, … you fill in your blank) we do tend to revert to the roles we played then.  I was always the mom (LOL).
 
The main story of this book is the longtime crush Autumn has had on Logan.  As the little sister, she was overlooked.  Logan was clueless then and is clueless now how to move from her proposition for a baby to his growing need for her… to his proposal.  The tensions – sexual and comical banter – are ceaseless and perfectly presented.
 
We know almost from the beginning that there is an ulterior motive behind this reunion, but that portion of the full story unfolds slowly – as it should. 
 
I loved spending time at the Lakeside Cottage and I’m looking forward to returning when the series continues.
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Lakeside Cottage Series:
1.      Living at 40
2.      Learning at 40
3.      Loving at 40
Also from L.B. Dunbar:
·         Chance Encounter
·         The Heart Remembers (previously released as The History in Us)
·         The Red Dress Affair
·         Rekindled
·         The Sex Education of M.E.
Collision Series:
1.      Collide
Island Duet:
1.      Redemption Island
2.      Return to the Island
Legendary Rock Stars Series:
1.      The Legend of Arturo King
2.      The Story of Lansing Lotte
3.      The Quest of Perkins Vale
4.      The Truth of Tristan Lyons
5.      The Trials of Guinevere DeGrance
Modern Descendents Series:
1.      Hades
2.      Solis
3.      Heph
Paradise Series:
Paradise Tempted:  The Beginning
1.      Paradise Fought:  Abel
2.      Paradise Found:  Cain
Sensations Collection Series:
1.      Speak from the Heart (formerly Sound Advice)
2.      Read with Your Heart (formerly Sight Words)
3.      Look with Your Heart (formerly Taste Test)
4.      Fight from the Heart (formerly Fragrance Free)
5.      View with Your Heart (formerly Touch Screen)
Silver Foxes Series:
1.      After Care
2.      Mid-Life Crisis
3.      Restored Dreams
4.      Second Chance
5.      Wine & Dine
Silver Foxes of Blue Ridge Series:
1.      Silver Brewer
2.      Silver Player
3.      Silver Mayor
4.      Silver Biker
Smarty Pants Romance Series:
1.      Love in Due Time (Green Valley Public Library #1)
2.      Love in Deed (Green Valley Public Library #6)
3.      Love in a Pickle (coming soon)
World of True North Series:
1.      Cowboy
2.      Studfinder
 

 

AMAZON-US
BOOKBUB