Sunday, December 27, 2009

1180. A Carnal Agreement (Silvia Violet)

Synopsis:
How far would you go for revenge? Cassandra Braxton's husband, Viscount Reddington, is evil incarnate. When he is murdered, she cannot mourn him, especially when he continues to plague her from beyond the grave. His will stipulates that she cannot claim her inheritance unless she has a child. The clause is a cruel joke. Reddington never consummated the marriage. Refusing to be defeated, Cassandra conspires to keep Reddington's death a secret. She goes to the home of Mark Foxwood, a handsome rake she has admired from afar, and makes an outrageous proposition. After being mocked by the woman he loved, Mark Foxwood retires to the country to spend the winter months alone. When Cassandra breezes into his study and asks him to get her with child, he is aroused and provoked by her determination. He agrees to her offer, but as he teaches her about fleshly delights, her open, honest passion pulls at his heart. Her love may be the only thing that can save him from despair.

My rating: 3 stars

1179. Scandalous Lovers (Robin Schone)

Synopsis:
Married at fifteen and widowed at forty-nine, country-bred Frances Hart has only known the duties of a wife and mother, and never the joys of a woman. Determined to broaden her horizons on every level, she daringly dyes her hair and sets out alone to explore London in all its sensual glory.

A successful London barrister and now a widower, James Whitcox knows duty but has never known passion. He joins an exclusive society founded to discuss sexual relations - but talking of the pleasures of the flesh is a far cry from actually experiencing them. Then Frances Hart accidentally barges into a meeting, enlightening the Men and Women's Club about a woman's needs - and tempting James to put his theories into practice...

Surrendering to the pleasures of the flesh, Frances finds herself in the arms of a younger man whose ideas shock her, whose gaze rivets her, and whose touch will change her forever...

My rating: 2 stars

1178. The Duke of Shadows (Meredith Duran)

Synopsis:
From exotic sandstone palaces...

Sick of tragedy, done with rebellion, Emmaline Martin vows to settle quietly into British Indian society. But when the pillars of privilege topple, her fiancé's betrayal leaves Emma no choice. She must turn for help to the one man whom she should not trust, but cannot resist: Julian Sinclair, the dangerous and dazzling heir to the Duke of Auburn.

To the marble halls of London...

In London, they toast Sinclair with champagne. In India, they call him a traitor. Cynical and impatient with both worlds, Julian has never imagined that the place he might belong is in the embrace of a woman with a reluctant laugh and haunted eyes. But in a time of terrible darkness, he and Emma will discover that love itself can be perilous -- and that a single decision can alter one's life forever.

Destiny follows wherever you run.

A lifetime of grief later, in a cold London spring, Emma and Julian must finally confront the truth: no matter how hard one tries to deny it, some pasts cannot be disowned...and some passions never die.

My rating: 3 stars

1177. The Pleasure of His Bed (Anthology)

Synopsis:
A seafaring adventure turns wickedly sinful when stowaway Sophia Martine is caught and confined to the captain's quarters. What privateer Damon Delacroix doesn't know is how much Sophia longs to be dominated. But soon it is Damon who is enslaved as he gives up all control and embarks on a wild journey of carnal pleasure...Queen Jarina never imagined that the foul play which brought her to the enemy kingdom of Pereth would also make her willing love slave, eager to fulfil her master's every desire. Now Jarina's only wish is to satisfy her master's insatiable appetite...In exchange for safe passage on his ship, Chessa strikes a daring bargain with Bodin - a dangerously handsome Viking - to become his sex slave and see to his needs. But she soon learns that to live under Bodin's command is to submit to the most sensual, skilled lovemaking she's always dreamed of...

My rating: 3 stars

1176. Double Trouble (Allyson James)

Synopsis:
While on an archeological dig in Greece, Fiona McCarty finds a broken vessel depicting two attractive men performing a blatantly erotic act with a woman. The night Fiona sets in the final piece back together, she awakens to find two identically gorgeous men on either side of her bed. They are Castor and Pollux, the Gemini, trapped in the broken vessel for thousands of years by an evil demigoddess. By freeing them, Fiona earns their undying devotion. Fiona has her hands full trying to keep the fun-loving demigods out of trouble, and also trying to stave off the wild sexual attraction she forms for both of them. Cas, the more serious and quiet, begins to teach her about slow sensuality. Pol, more outrageous and daring, teaches her erotic games she'd never known existed. Then Cas reveals he doesn't mind sharing or watching her with Pol, and Fiona revels in her newfound sexuality. But when the evil demigoddess returns for revenge, Fiona has to discover a way to keep the loves of her life free...forever.

My rating: 3 stars

1175. When the Duke Returns (Eloisa James)

Synopsis:
The Duchess of Cosway yearns for a man she has never met . . . her husband.

Married by proxy as a child, Lady Isidore has spent years fending off lecherous men in every European court while waiting to meet her husband. She's determined to accept him, no matter how unattractive the duke turns out to be. When she finally lures Simeon Jermyn back to London, his dark handsomeness puts Isidore's worst fears to rest -- until disaster strikes.

The duke demands an annulment.

Forsaking his adventuresome past, Simeon has returned to London ready to embrace the life of a proper duke, only to find that his supposed wife is too ravishing, too headstrong, and too sensual to be the docile duchess he has in mind. But Isidore will not give up her claim to the title - or him - without a fight.

She will do whatever it takes to capture Simeon's heart, even if it means sacrificing her virtue. After all, a consummated marriage cannot be annulled.

Yet in forcing Simeon into a delicious surrender, will Isidore risk not only her dignity - but her heart?

My rating: 2 stars

1174. Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss (Deb Marlowe)

Synopsis:
The Wicked Lord Dayle

Charles Alden, Viscount Dayle, is intent on reform, having misspent his youth on hard living, soft women and outrageous pranks. Forced by circumstance to hold a title he never wanted, he's determined to live up to his noble name.

The Unconventional Miss Westby

Sophie Westby is the last woman who should attract his interest. And yet she comforts his battered spirit, captivates his wary mind and tempts him with her exotic beauty. But the reformed rake cannot cause another scandal--can he?

My rating: 2 stars

1173. Marrying the Captain (Carla Kelly)

Synopsis:
Ever since her father tried to sell her as a mistress to the highest bidder, Eleanor Massie has chosen to live in poverty. Her world changes overnight when Captain Oliver Worthy shows up at her struggling inn. Despite herself, Nana is drawn to her handsome guest..

Oliver planned to stay in Plymouth only long enough to report back to Lord Ratliffe - about Nana. But he soon senses that Lord Ratliffe is up to something, and Oliver will do anything to keep this courageous, beautiful woman safe - even marry her!

My rating: 2 stars

1172. The Italian Boss's Secretary Mistress (Cathy Williams)

Synopsis:
To arrogant Italian Gabriel Gessi, Rose has always been his plain, sensible secretary.

But when she returns from vacation with a stunning new look, Gabriel decides he wants to take her out of the boardroom and into his bedroom!

And the plain-Jane secretary--

Rose has been in love with her gorgeous boss for years, but her resolve to try and forget him weakens when they begin working more closely together--on a secluded Caribbean island!

My rating: 3 stars

Friday, December 25, 2009

1171. Simply the Best (Shirley Jump)

Synopsis:
Nothing takes the sheen off a marriage proposal quite like discovering that your prospective fiance already has a wife. And for newspaper writer Alexandra Kenner, this is just the latest in a series of unfortunate relationships that are good for only one thing - badmouthing over beers with her best buddy, Mack Douglas. For a guy - especially a distractingly sexy, determinedly single guy - Mack has his decent side, offering to let Alex stay with him while he helps her remodel her house, even setting her up with a potential Mr. Right. What more could Alex ask for - except perhaps an encore of that out-of-the-blue, completely earth-shattering kiss Mack just laid on her? Mack can't pinpoint the moment Alex stopped being the girl next door and became the marquee name in his wildest fantasies. She's always been gorgeous, but lately the commitment-phobic contractor wants her in ways and places that would change their friendship forever. That's something Alex will never risk, unless Mack can find a way to convince her that together they can build something that's bigger, better, and definitely made to last.

My rating: 2 stars

Sunday, December 20, 2009

1170. And One Rode West (Heather Graham)

Synopsis:
From the bitter aftermath of war...

A regal beauty with raven hair and piercing blue eyes, Christa Cameron suffered the indignities of defeat in the Civil War's bitter aftermath, her spirit unvanquished and her hatred of the victorious enemy undiminished. When marriage to a Yankee officer was the only way to save her plantation from confiscation, Christa coaxed Colonel Jeremy McCauley into a legal union, promising herself to keep her pride and purity intact. But her virile bridegroom had other ideas...

To the promise of an untamed frontier...

Succumbing to her courageous husband's russet-haired, silver-eyed appeal, Christa rode west with the cavalry but remained a Rebel in her heart. Embarking on a trail of stampeding buffalo and wild Indians, a flower of the southern aristocracy was forced to play the part of loyal army wife. But it was only as a savage's hostage that Christa learned the startling depths of her new husband's devotion - and the extraordinary power of freedom - as she vowed to make the West her home... and to build a new world on the ashes of the old....

My rating: 4 stars

1169. Too Good to be True (Kristan Higgins)

Synopsis:
When Grace Emerson's ex-fiancé starts dating her younger sister, extreme measures are called for. To keep everyone from obsessing about her love life, Grace announces that she's seeing someone. Someone wonderful. Someone handsome. Someone completely made up. Who is this Mr. Right? Someone.exactly unlike her renegade neighbor Callahan O'Shea. Well, someone with his looks, maybe. His hot body. His knife-sharp sense of humor. His smarts and big heart.

Whoa. No. Callahan O'Shea is not her perfect man! Not with his unsavory past. So why does Mr. Wrong feel so ... right?

My rating: 4 stars

1168. Total Surrender (Cheyenne McCray)

Synopsis:
Forbidden fantasies are about to come to life.

In Forbidden Surrender, Teri Carter is a corporate lawyer who travels constantly, and her social life - especially her sex life - is nonexistent. But Teri has a deep, dark fantasy and when she meets Josh Williams, a Master who knows a born submissive when he sees one, he teaches her all about pleasure.and complete surrender.

In Wicked Surrender, Andi Kelly is looking forward to a weekend of turning over control to a dominant man. She's headed to what patrons refer to as "The Bondage Club," an exclusive resort. What she never expects is to meet the man of her dreams in the form of the devastatingly hot Derrick Macintyre - a fantasy turned reality.

In Sweet Surrender, Sheila Lane burns for Adamo Tassoni, but circumstances have forced her to keep the flames locked deep in her heart. Drop-dead gorgeous bosses only fall in love with their administrative assistants in the movies, right? Besides, she's full-figured and plain, nothing like the flawless, cultured females in his world. Then when Adam sells Tassoni Investments, Shelia is heartbroken and sure her fantasies will never come true. But when she receives a mysterious invitation, her life changes ... forever.

My rating: 4 stars

1167. Seduce Me at Sunrise (Lisa Kleypas)

Synopsis:
Kev Merripen has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway ever since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins - and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation.and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.

Then, Win returns to England ... only to find that Kev has hardened into a man who will deny love at all costs. Meantime, an attractive, seductive suitor has set his sights on Win. It's now or never for Kev to make his move. But first, he must confront a dangerous secret about his destiny - or risk losing the only woman he has lived for.

My rating: 3 stars

1166. Dark Desires (Eve Silver)

Synopsis:
On the streets of Whitechapel, a man steps from the fog-shrouded shadows, looking for company. The women are always happy to take his coin - just before they take his knife...Darcie Finch has come to the East London brothel as a last, desperate choice. Instead, the madam turns Darcie out into the harsh night with new hope - to seek employment from one who owes her a favour, Dr. Damien Cole - as well as a last warning: have a care. Steer clear of his work and his secrets. He is a man to fear...The Cole residence is a strange place, indeed. Servants disappear. Unsavoury characters call at odd hours of the night. And Darcie has seen the handsome doctor leave his laboratory splattered with blood. Now, Damien has offered her the chance of a lifetime, using her skills as an artist to work beside him. Long hours together soon ignite an unexpected - and irresistible - passion. But the closer Darcie gets to Damien and his secrets, the more she wonders if he is a dedicated, charming healer...or a cold-blooded killer...

My rating: 4 stars

1165. The Greek Tycoon's Defiant Bride (Lynne Graham)

Synopsis:
Maribel was a shy virgin when she and handsome Leonidas Pallis shared a night of passion. She assumed he was inspired by his need for comfort, rather than lust for her. However, unbeknownst to Leonidas… Maribel conceived his child.

Now Leonidas wants what's his: his baby boy and Maribel, available 24/7. But the only way Leonidas will claim her and their son is if he takes her…as his bride!

My rating: 4 stars

1164. The Bride's Proposition (Day Leclaire)

Synopsis:
Penelope believed in being practical. She needed a husband, so decided to investigate suitable candidates-and propose! Stefano Salvatore was perfect, and their marriage would also combine their business assets. Surely Stefano would find such logic irresistible?

But this passionate Italian believed in marrying for love, not meeting his bride for the first time as she walked into his office bearing matching wedding rings! He thought Penelope was crazy-but adorable. In fact, he was beginning to take her proposition seriously!

My rating: 2 stars

1163. The Spanish Billionaire's Pregnant Wife (Lynne Graham)

The cover model's abs are great, the book ... not so much.

Synopsis:
Leandro Carrera Marquez, Duque de Sandoval, was as aristocratic, proud and arrogant as his name.and darkly handsome in an impossible, breathtaking way. What would this billionaire Spanish banker want with a struggling, impoverished waitress like Molly?

But Leandro did want Molly - and he took her, accidentally making her pregnant with his child. In Leandro's traditional world, there was only one option - marry the mother of his heir. After all, none of his noble ancestors had actually married for love ....

My rating: 2 stars

1162. The Italian's Future Bride (Michelle Reid)

Synopsis:
Eligible bachelor Rafaelle Villani is used to loving his women-and leaving them. Until his freedom is compromised by a candid newspaper photo, which suggests he has finally fallen-for Rachel Carmichael. Soon the world's press is reporting their engagement! Rafaelle claims his fake fiancee; twenty-four hours later Rachel has been passionately seduced-and fears she has conceived his baby. So, Rafaelle demands that Rachel pretend to be his future bride!

My rating: 4 stars

1161. Bound and Determined (Shelley Bradley)

Synopsis:
To prove her brother's innocence in an embezzlement charge Kerry Sullivan resorts to kidnapping electronic security expert Rafe Dawson. But she may have to let Rafe have his way first-with her.

My rating: 3 stars

Saturday, December 19, 2009

1160. The Markonos Bride (Michelle Reid)

Synopsis:
The island of Aristos holds bittersweet memories for Louisa. Here she met and married gorgeous Greek playboy Andreas Markonos and bore him a precious son. But when tragedy struck, Louisa fled..

Now, years later, Andreas can't believe that his runaway wife has dared set foot on Aristos again - and that he still desires her. Andreas will reclaim his wife with the one thing they still have in common.intense physical passion!

My rating: 3 stars

1159. Antonides' Forbidden Wife (Anne McAllister)

Synopsis:
Ally is back in the life of PJ Antonides for one thing only - his signature on their divorce papers.

But arrogant Greek businessman PJ refuses to sign anything. He won't accept that Ally's no longer his wife. So when the smoldering attraction between them moves negotiations from his boardroom to his bedroom, PJ knows his forbidden bride is once again his, and ready for the taking ....

My rating: 3 stars

1158. Anything for Love (Connie Brockway)

Dude needs to lay off the self-tanner.

Synopsis:
Determined to overcome her reputation as a spoiled rich girl, Venice Leiland journeys to the remote Rockies to save a small mining town from ruin and comes face to face with her childhood hero, the devastatingly attractive Noble "Slats" McCaneaghy.

My rating: 3 stars

1157. Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (Roald Dahl)

Synopsis:
Charlie and Willy Wonka are back, this time in a fantastic journey to outer space in their glass elevator.

My rating: 4 stars

1156. Charlotte's Web (E. B. White)

Synopsis:
The story of a girl called Fern who loves a little pig called Wilbur. It tells of how Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful grey spider, saves Wilbur from the usual fate of nice fat pigs, by a wonderfully clever plan - a plan so original that no one else could have thought of it.

My rating: 4 stars

1155. The Courtship Dance (Candace Camp)

Synopsis:
Lady Francesca Haughston had given up on romance for herself, finding passion instead in making desirable matches for others. So it seemed only fair, when she learned she had been deceived into breaking her own long-ago engagement to Sinclair, Duke of Rochford, that she now help him find the perfect wife.

Of course, Francesca was certain any spark of passion between them had long since died - her own treatment of him had seen to that. The way Sinclair gazed at her or swept her suddenly into his arms.well, that was merely practice for when a younger, more suitable woman caught his eye. But soon Francesca found his lessons in love scandalously irresistible - and a temptation that could endanger them both.

My rating: 3 stars

1154. The Greek Tycoon's Unexpected Wife (Annie West)

Synopsis:
Stavros Denakis is furious when Tessa Marlowe turns up without warning. Weary and cynical through his experience with women, Stavros suspects the wife he hardly knows is a gold digger - surely she's here to claim her share of the Denakis millions. But Tessa is a temptation that he can't resist ....

Bedded by her gorgeous Greek husband, Tessa realizes she has fallen in love with him, and longs for their marriage to become real. Only, Stavros, though he may be passionate in private, remains cold in public, and is determined they stay wedded only in name ....

My rating: 3 stars

1153. Strokes of Midnight (Hope Tarr)

The guy on the cover has a bigger chest than the girl. He should probably get off the steroids ....

Synopsis:
1) Hit the NYT bestseller list with latest novel

2) Find a great guy and start living a perfect life

3) Try to stay in her own bed!

When author Becky Stone's horoscope predicted that the New Year would bring her great things, she never expected the first thing she'd experience would be great sex! But after the crushing news that the only way to save her career is to coauthor a book with chauvinistic Adam Maxwell, Becky needs something to go right. And what could be more right than spending an incredible New Year's Eve in the arms of a seriously sexy stranger?

Only, the man in her bed isn't going to be a stranger much longer….

My rating: 3 stars

1152. Dark Stranger (Heather Graham)

Synopsis:
Kristin McCahy was a fighter, struggling to keep the remnants of her family and ranch together as the Civil War raged around them. On the day when all hope seemed lost, a stranger rode to her rescue, his guns spitting fire and his eyes ablaze with a passion only she could quench.

His name was Cole Slater, and with him by her side, Kristin no longer had to fight her battles alone. Long after the gunfire faded into silence, Cole would be with her, as together they healed the wounds of their war-torn land and raised their children to greet the bright new dawn.

My rating: 2 stars

1151. Smooth-Talking Stranger (Lisa Kleypas)

Synopsis:
Jack Travis is a macho Houston businessman - rich, tough and always in control. So when a beautiful young woman approaches his office carrying a baby that she claims is his, he's shaken more than he would ever let on. Stunned, Jack listens to Ella Varner as she explains that her sister recently gave birth and then abandoned her baby boy - and that enquiries have brought Ella to Jack's door. He virtually has a seizure when she asks him to do a paternity test. But ultimately, will a paternity test set things right? If Jack is the father, will he be the one to care for the baby? Would Ella be prepared to let him go? And if not? Ella can't bear to think of an answer...

My rating: 3 stars

My review: Jack Travis is quite possibly the Nicest. Guy. Ever.

Friday, December 18, 2009

1150. The First Sin (Cheyenne McCray)

Synopsis:
Alexi Steele is determined, relentless, and driven to protect the innocent. She's a top agent of the NSA's clandestine Recovery Enforcement Division, specializing in human trafficking and sex crimes. Her current mission: To infiltrate the inner circle of Boston's exclusive S&M clubs in order to save thirteen young women who are about to be auctioned off to the highest bidders. But Lexi's only way in is under the 'control' of her new partner in crime, Nicholas Donovan.

Nick will do whatever it takes to bring down the billionaire sex-ring mastermind who's kidnapped his sister. But the games he must play as Lexi's 'dominant' are burning away his icy control, and blurring the lines between partners. Meanwhile, their enemies are closing in as they enter a devastating race against time.bringing them dangerously close to THE FIRST SIN.

My rating: 3 stars

1149. Wild Card (Lora Leigh)

Synopsis:
It was supposed to be simple. All Navy SEAL Nathan Malone had to do was rescue three young girls from a Colombia drug cartel, then allow himself to be captured just long enough to draw out a government spy. That was before his mission went disastrously wrong.and before his wife, Bella, was told that Nathan was never coming home.

Bella's mourned her husband's death for three long years. But she has no idea he's still alive. Forced to assume a new identity, the man Nathan was is now dead. If he can get back to his wife, can he keep the secret of who he really is.even as desire threatens to consume them? And as danger threatens to tear Bella from Nathan's arms once more?

My rating: 4 stars

1148. Nauti Intentions (Lora Leigh)

Synopsis:
Since he saw Janey Mackay taking a dip in her bikini, Major Alex Jansen has had to quell the fire she ignites in him. Even touching her would mean death at the hands of the Mackay men. Until now, the girl of his dreams - and fantasies - has lived in a vacuum of affection, shying away from the danger she thinks men represent. Alex sets out to prove her wrong, with his torturously slow caresses.

Everyone thinks Janey's safe now, with her abusers dead. But when someone starts leaving spine chilling notes, Alex won't rest until she's completely safe. And completely his - body and soul.

My rating: 3 stars

1147. Coyote's Mate (Lora Leigh)

Synopsis:
For six years Anya Korbin worked with Del-Rey Delgato - the genetically altered rebel known as the Coyote Ghost - to free a group of coyote women kept in her father's lab. As Anya matured into a woman, she and Del-Rey grew close.but then he broke his promise and killed her father. Now she must deal with her animalistic desire for the one who betrayed her.

My rating: 3 stars

My review: I like Lora Leigh but the plots in her Breeds series are getting repetitive.

1146. The De Santis Marriage (Michelle Reid)

Synopsis:
Italian tycoon Luciano De Santis is breathtaking in every way: he has power, success - and a devastating effect on women. Now Luc needs a bride - and he's decided that ordinary Lizzy Hadley will be his wife! He's set his trap and blackmailed her, and he knows she can't refuse him. But there's one condition Luc fails to mention - as his wife, Lizzy must produce an heir!

My rating: 4 stars

1145. The Billionaire's Blackmailed Bride (Jacqueline Baird)

Synopsis:
Anton Diaz is hell-bent on revenge; he'll seduce and marry the innocent daughter of his enemy. To exact his plan will be no hardship, as Emily Fairfax is as beautiful as she is virginal.

It's only after that Emily realizes Anton is blackmailing her. Yet she can't stop her body betraying her as they spend their days parted in anger and their nights locked in passion ....

My rating: 3 stars

My review: These Harlequin books are like the soap operas of the romance novel world. They're cheesy but really addicting.

1144. Just One of the Guys (Kristan Higgins)

Synopsis:
Being one of the guys isn't all it's cracked up to be.

So when journalist Chastity O'Neill returns to her hometown, she decides it's time to start working on some of those feminine wiles. Two tiny problems: #1 - she's five feet eleven inches of rock-solid girl power, and #2 - she's cursed with four alpha male older brothers.

While doing a story on local heroes, she meets a hunky doctor and things start to look up. Now there's only one problem: Trevor Meade, her first love and the one man she's never quite gotten over - although he seems to have gotten over her just fine.

Yet the more time she spends with Dr. Perfect, the better Trevor looks. But even with the in-your-face competition, the irresistible Trevor just can't seem to see Chastity as anything more than just one of the guys..

My rating: 5 stars

My review: Another keeper by Kristan Higgins. I LOVE the ending of this book. For a few reviews, I've been raving about Kristan Higgins without specifically mentioning why. Here are the things that I love about her stories:
  • Her heroines are not model-perfect stunners with kindness and sweetness seeping out of their pores. They're normal girls who are nice but have issues.
  • The male characters are not billionaires or heroes. They're normal guys who are decent and nice but have issues.
  • The families are not out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Siblings fight. Parents fight. Siblings and the parents fight. The families are normal.
  • In other words, the people in her books are real with real problems mixed in with their good qualities. I found myself identifying with most of her female main characters, not something that happens often.
  • And the book covers are cute.

1143. Strike Zone (Kate Angell)

Synopsis:
When the captain of the Richmond Rogues starts dating his former runaway bride, he knows this time their relationship will be a home run.

My rating: 2 stars

My review: Cliches abound and the heroine is annoying.

1142. Catch of the Day (Kristan Higgins)

Synopsis:
First Date a la Maggie
Take one lovelorn diner owner (me)
A generous helping of nosy local gossips
A dollop of envy at married sister's perfect life
A splash of divine intervention (my matchmaking priest)

Combine ingredients with one adorable puppy, add a strong but silent lobsterman with a hidden heart of gold . . . and watch the sparks fly.

My rating: 5 stars

My review:
One of my favorite books by Kristan Higgins.

1141. Being Wicked (Lacy Danes)

Synopsis:
It is an evening for rakes and rogues, courtesans and demimondes, and lords and ladies in disguise, all wishing to sample the array of erotic delights around them. But this ball is not the talk of the ton, it is a taste of forbidden ecstasy...Lilly had never dreamed that hiding in her brother's carriage would end in her arrival at a ball such as this. She should be shocked by the bawdy behaviour before her, but instead she is intrigued. And when Vincent St. Jerome, London's foremost rake, offers to help her find her brother, she follows him to a room filled with peep holes in the walls. What Lilly sees is pure carnal pleasure and all she desires is complete sexual surrender...Lady Wentland is a worldly widow who misses the sensual delights she used to share with her husband. So attending the Cyprian's Ball disguised as a courtesan allows her to sample the erotic pleasures she's missed - until she meets Winston Greyton, her brother's best friend and the one man she knows she might have once loved. She resists his first advances toward her - but the heat of their arousal soon ignites a fire of wicked, reckless passion...

My rating: 4 stars

Thursday, December 17, 2009

1140. Highland Scandal (Julia London)

Synopsis:
Jack Haines, The Earl of Lambourne, has been accused of adultery with the Princess of Wales and has fled to his native Scotland until the scandal subsides. But Jack gets word from his sister that the Prince of Wales has sent men after Jack, with instructions to bring him back to London to face charges. The message includes the warning that if he is found guilty of adultery with the princess, he could hang. His sister urges him to flee deeper into the Highlands. In a remote corner of the Highlands Jack is apprehended by two Scots bounty hunters who offer him a deal: They won't turn him over to the prince's men if Jack helps them with a family problem. They need him to get engaged to their sister to ward off a suitor from a powerful rival clan who is intent on controlling their land. Facing a choice between being hanged in London and pretending to woo a lass, Jack agrees to the bounty hunters' demand. But the task becomes more challenging when Jack meets the men's beautiful, fiery-spirited sister.

My rating: 4 stars

1139. Confessions of a Little Black Gown (Elizabeth Boyle)

Synopsis:
When Thalia Langley spies a dark and handsome stranger in the shadows of her brother-in-law's study, she knows in an instant that she's found the dangerous, rakish sort of man she's always dreamt of. But the man she thinks she's seen and the complete stranger who comes into the light are two very different men. Tally suspects there is more to this man than meets the eye, and she has the perfect weapon to help tempt the truth from him: a little black gown she's found in a trunk. Lord Larken, posing as the duke's cousin, is searching for the notorious Captain Dashwell. His deception runs into trouble, however, when the duke's tempting sister-in-law starts to chip away at his reverent disguise and his icy, forgotten heart.

My rating: 4 stars

1138. Practice Makes Perfect (Julie James)

Synopsis;
When it comes to the laws of attraction, there are no rules The battle between the sexes is about to make these two lawyers hot under the collar. Opposites collide when two lawyers try to make partner at the same firm. Payton Kendall is a feminist to the bone. Cocky J.D. Jameson was born privileged. But when they're asked to join forces on a major case, they gain a newfound awareness of each other's personal assets. The partnership spot will be offered to only one of them, though. The competition heats up. Sparks fly. Let the games begin.

My rating: 4 stars

My review: I dare you not to have a crush on J.D. by the end of the book.

1137. Shadow Magic (Cheyenne McCray)

Synopsis:
When Hannah Wentworth temporarily flees her life in San Francisco to join her sister D'Anu witches in Otherworld, she vows to help them conquer the evil bent on destroying the human realm. But the only one who can help her happens to be the king of the Dark Elves. The father to her nemesis, Rhiannon of the D'Anu. And the one man Hannah can never, ever trust...especially because of her dangerous attraction to him.

Garran knows that the beautiful, headstrong Hannah is wary of him for having banished his people to a life underground. But now Garran can right that wrong by helping her and the other gray witches in their dangerous battle in San Francisco—even if doing so means sacrificing the passion he's found only in Hannah's arms…

My rating: 3 stars

1136. Dominic (Elizabeth Amber)

Synopsis:
They are Satyrs, men endowed with legendary carnal knowledge who demand total and complete control with their sexual prowess...

A Night Of Bliss

Emma anxiously awaits her husband's return home to Tuscany on Calling night. She hopes that the night-long copulation will draw them closer together for she questions whether they truly love one another. But when Carlo arrives, injured in battle and unable to perform, she learns she must mate instead with Dominic, a lusty, royal Satyr. It is a night of hedonistic passion that leaves her wanting much, much more...

A Moment Of Rapture

Like other Satyr lords, Vincent is driven to mate from dusk to dawn every Calling night. But as a bachelor, Vincent must conjure a female from the mist who will satisfy his sexual needs. While his brothers summon a different partner with each full moon, Vincent calls upon the same one time after time. He wants her to experience the same erotic pleasure he feels and one night she does the magic is real...

My rating: 4 stars

1135. Unpredictable (Eileen Cook)

Synopsis:
Sophie isn't crazy, she just wants her guy back. And posing as a psychic to give his new girlfriend a fake reading designed to break them up isn't going overboard, is it? Don't answer that.

Faking psychic powers turns out to be fun, especially after a few lessons from Nick, the cute skeptic, who teaches her all the tricks of the trade. But her readings do a lot more than she could have predicted. Now she must decide whether to accept her rising stardom in a less-than-honest line of work-and whether the best option is trying to rekindle her old flame or finding romance with someone new. And, most importantly, she needs to figure out whether the answers lie in the stars-or in herself.

My rating: 4 stars

1134. Fools Rush In (Kristan Higgins)

Synopsis:
Millie Barnes is this close to finally achieving her perfect life . . .

Rewarding job as a local doctor on Cape Cod? Check. Cute cottage of her very own? Check. Adorable puppy suitable for walks past attractive locals? Check! All she needs is for golden boy and former crush Joe Carpenter to notice her, and Millie will be set.

But perfection isn't as easy as it looks -- especially when Sam Nickerson, the town sheriff, is so distracting. Sure, he needs a friend after being dumped by Millie's fortune-hunting sister, but does she really need to enjoy his company that much? He is definitely not part of her master plan. But maybe it's time for Millie to start a new list . . .

My rating: 4 stars

My review: Kristan Higgins's books are solid. There hasn't been one that I haven't liked or loved yet. A go-to in chick-lit/contemporary romance.

1133. Always a Scoundrel (Suzanne Enoch)

Synopsis:
Lord Bramwell Johns is a wastrel, a rake, a scoundrel...and proud of it. The second son of the Duke of Levonzy, Bram is bored enough and reckless enough to break into the homes of his peers just for the excitement. But then he overhears a couple arranging the marriage of their daughter to an even more notorious rake than Bram...Lady Rosamund likes to think of herself as practical. If she has to marry, a titled rake is better than a penniless gentleman. But what about an untitled rake? For suddenly Brams appears everywhere she is, and doing his best to sweep her off her feet. If Rose isn't careful, she may believe that reformed rakes really do make the best husbands...

My rating: 3 stars

1132. The Virgin's Secret (Victoria Alexander)

Synopsis:
Even the least sensible woman knew, upon meeting his gaze, that here was a man who was more than he might at first appear, who might steal the heart of even the most resistant woman. But oh, what a lovely theft!

Adventurer Nathanial Harrington would never steal another man's discovery. And he'd never be so dishonorable as to tempt an untouched woman into his bed . . . even one as stunningly beautiful as Gabriella Montini. Yet she intrigues him. What is her secret? Nate would do anything to find out.

Nathanial is an earl's son - but Gabriella knows he's not to be trusted! He's more than just a mere thief of hearts, he's also stolen her brother's good name. Determined to restore his reputation, she'd even masquerade as a destitute orphan and be taken into his family's home. But how can she continue her ruse when she finds herself succumbing to Nathanial's passionate charms?

My rating: 2 stars

1131. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma (Trenton Lee Stewart)

Synopsis:
Join the Mysterious Benedict Society as Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance embark on a new adventure! When an unexplained blackout engulfs Stonetown, the foursome must unravel clues relating to a nefarious new plot, while their search for answers brings them closer to danger than ever before.

My rating: 4 stars