How Many Books Does a Person Read in a Lifetime?

1290. Just Like Heaven (Julia Quinn)

2011-09-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Honoria Smythe-Smith is: A) a really bad violinist
B) still miffed at being nicknamed "Bug" as a child
C) not in love with her older brother's best friend
D) all of the above

Marcus Holroyd is: A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) not in love with his best friend's younger sister
D) all of the above

Together they: A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) survive a deadly fever and the world's worst musical performance
C) fall quite desperately in love

It's Julia Quinn at her best, so you know the answer is . . .

D) all of the above

My rating: 4 stars

My review: It's Julia Quinn. Of course, it's a rollicking good read.

1289. Guarding a Notorious Lady (Olivia Parker)

2011-09-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
A woman of pristine breeding, Lady Rosalind Devine is also an unrepentant meddler and snoop - which is why her brother refuses to leave her to her own devices while on his wedding trip. But Rosalind will not make things easy for any unseen, unwanted 'nursemaid' - and vows to use her considerable wiles to expose her mystery guardian.

Nicholas Kincaid, the Marquess of Winterbourne, agreed to secretly guard his friend's spoiled, stubborn sister, though her infuriating penchant for mischief is causing him to question his decision. Though bound by the rules of society - and friendship - Rosalind's spirit and sensuality have sparked a fierce desire in Nicholas to play a very different role in her life, one that entails passion, ecstasy . . . and unavoidable scandal.

My rating: 2 stars

My review: It's possible that my expectations for this book were too high. I LOVED Olivia Parker's previous book, "To Wed a Wicked Earl," and it would have been hard for any subsequent book to live up to that. I wanted to love this book but I couldn't get myself to care about these characters. Oh, well.

1288. A Game of Thrones (George R. R. Martin)

2011-09-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdomâs protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

My rating: 5 stars

1287. Bastian (Elizabeth Amber)

2011-09-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
The forum excavations in Rome go on, directed by the iron-willed, charismatic Lord Bastian Satyr. Out of nowhere, a mysterious, haunting voice calls out to him... and lures him to the site of a long-vanished temple, where vestal virgins once performed rites of erotic surrender. The temple is the find of his career, but his heart is about to face the unknown...Michaela is a pure Ephemeral. She can enter the bodies of others - and become any woman a man might wish to possess. His choice is her pleasure. And the commanding and utterly virile Bastian is the only man she desires ....

My rating: 4 stars

1286. A Clash of Kings (George R. R. Martin)

2011-09-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. And from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.

My rating: 5 stars

1285. Notorious (Nicola Cornick)

2011-09-07T17:06:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
When the ton's most notorious heartbreaker.

Dangerously seductive and sinfully beautiful, Susanna Burney is society's most sought after matchbreaker. Paid by wealthy parents to part unsuitable couples, she's never yet failed to accomplish her mission of diverting a groom-to-be. Until her final assignment brings her face-to-face with the man who'd once taught her an intimate lesson in heartache..

Meets London's most disreputable rake.

James Devlin has everything he's always wanted: a title, a rich fiancée and a place in society. But the woman who's just met his eyes across a crowded ballroom threatens it all. Not because she'd once claimed his heart, or that every sinuous swirl of her ball gown takes his breath away. But because the secrets she carries could cost him everything. To put the past to rest once and for all, Dev just might have to play Susanna at her own wicked game..

Let the seduction begin!

My rating: 4 stars

1284. The Man on the Balcony (Maj Sjowall, Per Wahloo)

2011-09-07T17:02:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Someone is killing young girls in the once-peaceful parks of Stockholm -- killing them after having his way. The people of Stockholm are tense and fearful. Police Superintendent Martin Beck has two witnesses: a cold-blooded mugger who won't say much and a three-year-old boy who can't say much. The dedicated work of the police force seems to be leading nowhere, and with each passing day, the likelihood of another murder grows. But then Beck remembers someone -- or something -- he overheard.

My rating: 4 stars

1283. Confessions of an Improper Bride (Jennifer Haymore)

2011-09-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Serena Donovan left London six years ago, her heart broken and her reputation ruined by devilishly handsome Jonathan Dane. Now, with her family's future in peril, she reluctantly agrees to return to England and assume her late twin's identity. The price? Marry a man she doesn't love and spend the rest of her days living a lie.

Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford, has become an incorrigible rake, drinking, gambling-and trying to forget Serena Donovan. Yet the moment he's introduced to the prim and proper "Meg", he recognizes the sensual young woman who captured his heart. Haunted by his past mistakes, he refuses to lose Serena again. But convincing her to trust him is no easy task. Claiming his lost love means exposing the truth and destroying the life Serena has sacrificed everything to rebuild. With the future of all the Donovans at stake, and their undying passion capable of triggering yet another scandal, how much will Jonathan and Serena risk for a chance at true love?

My rating: 4 stars

1282. Black Ties and Lullabies (Jane Graves)

2011-09-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
As a bodyguard, Bernadette Hogan's professional life is devoted to keeping self-made millionaire Jeremy Bridges safe. But if she has to spend one more evening watching him pick up vacuous blondes for casual flings, she may have to kill him herself. After a particularly infuriating night, Bernie drops her professional veneer and calls Jeremy on his womanizing ways. Unfortunately, she discovers that anger and passion are intimately entangled, and before she knows it, she's succumbed to the sexy millionaire herself. Humiliated by her lack of control, Bernie quits on the spot, only to discover eight weeks later that she's pregnant with their baby.

Jeremy is thrilled to discover the hot-blooded woman hiding beneath Bernie's cool control. Even though weeks have passed, he can't stop thinking about her. When he finds out about her pregnancy, he decides to step up. He coaxes her into a reluctant truce, convincing her he's ready to change from partying playboy to dependable dad. But Jeremy has never been a one-woman man. So how can he be falling for this tough, sassy, uncompromising woman who wants nothing less than his heart forever?

My rating: 5 stars

1281. A Storm of Swords (George R. R. Martin)

2011-09-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King's Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world ....

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Othersâa supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords ....

My rating: 5 stars

1280. The Book of Scandal (Julia London)

2010-04-20T17:14:00.001-07:00

Synopsis:

Nathan Grey, the Earl of Lindsey, is infamously known as the Libertine of Lindsey for his scandalous ways with women. But when he hears gossip that his estranged wife, Evelyn, is about to be named in The Book of Scandal, he has no choice but to remove her from London to protect her and himself from charges of treason -- even if it calls for abduction! While Evelyn has no legal recourse against the man who broke her heart years ago but is still considered her lord and master, she is no longer the immature girl Nathan married. Her enforced homecoming quickly turns into a battle of wills that tears down her husband's defenses and lays bare the passion that still burns between them. Before it is too late, Nathan must confront powerful adversaries as he convinces Evelyn that she is not only his wife, but the one woman he will love for all time.

My rating: 3 stars

1279. The Perils of Pursuing a Prince (Julia London)

2010-04-20T17:11:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Lady Greer Fairchild's only hope of avoiding marriage to the first bidder lies in journeying into the untamed Welsh countryside in search of an inheritance she's not sure even exists -- one reportedly controlled by Rhodrick Glendower, Earl of Radnor, also known as the Prince of Powys. Rumor has it that the prince is rough, ruthless -- even a murderer. But Greer never imagined that the brute would refuse to let her leave his remote castle until she has proven her identity. Or that she would find herself powerfully attracted to this passionately virile man whose gruff demeanor belies a proud and sensual nature. The further Greer falls under his spell, the more determined she becomes to unravel the secrets of her Welsh heritage and the mystery surrounding the dark prince who dares her to become his wife and princess.

My rating: 3 stars

1278. Voyeur (Lacey Alexander)

2010-04-20T17:08:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Suffering from writer's block and with no lover to speak of, novelist Laura Watkins is in a funk. She needs a getaway and a release. Fast. Fortunately, she finds both in the retreat of a friend's isolated Colorado home. It's hers and hers alone for as long as she needs it. Then she comes upon the webcam, and her curiosity is aroused. So is her secret fantasy-to be watched by a stranger.

His screen name is Flyboy. He likes what he sees. He wants to open up for her, too. Now, they're only one click away from exploring an after-hours game of exhibitionist and voyeur where anything goes. But now it's time to take it one step further-by meeting in the flesh. This time, no rules, no limits, and absolutely nothing to come between them.

My rating: 4 stars

1277. The Treasure (Suzanne Robinson)

2010-04-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

A mistress of disguise...

Orphan Emily Fox may be London's most skilled lady pickpocket, but she is certain her grandest scheme will also be her last. For when she finds the treasure hidden on Valin North's spectacular estate, she'll be rich enough to give her beloved siblings everything they could ever want... and she'll never have to scheme for her supper again. Disguised as a flirtatious debutante entering the social scene, Emmie slips into North's circle--and is instantly captivated by the powerfully sensual nobleman. Suddenly, stealing from North seems like more than mere deception. It seems like a betrayal of the heart.

A master of control...

Valin North knows he must marry to produce an heir, but every woman he meets provokes his disdain. Except one--an unusual, charming debutante whose social status unfortunately makes her more suited to be his mistress than his spouse. Yet in spite of familial pressure to make a more appropriate match, North defiantly pursues the bewitching woman...even though his affections are shadowed by the mysterious inconsistencies of his lady's past. With suspicions aroused, North is forced to wonder: Has this beguiling beauty made off with his heart--or something more?

My rating: 3 stars

1276. Moscow Rules (Daniel Silva)

2010-04-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Now the death of a journalist leads Allon to Russia, where he finds that, in terms of spycraft, even he has something to learn. He's playing by Moscow rules now.

This is not the grim, gray Moscow of Soviet times but a new Moscow, awash in oil wealth and choked with bulletproof Bentleys. A Moscow where power resides once more behind the walls of the Kremlin and where critics of the ruling class are ruthlessly silenced. A Moscow where a new generation of Stalinists is plotting to reclaim an empire lost and to challenge the global dominance of its old enemy, the United States.

One such man is Ivan Kharkov, a former KGB colonel who built a global investment empire on the rubble of the Soviet Union. Hidden within that empire, however, is a more lucrative and deadly business: Kharkov is an arms dealer - and he is about to deliver Russia's most sophisticated weapons to al- Qaeda. Unless Allon can learn the time and place of the delivery, the world will see the deadliest terror attacks since 9/11 - and the clock is ticking fast.

My rating: 4 stars

1275. On the Way to the Wedding (Julia Quinn)

2010-04-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believes in true love. And he is convinced that when he finds the woman of his dreams, he will know in an instant that she is the one. And that is exactly what happened. Except...

She wasn't the one. In fact, the ravishing Miss Hermione Watson is in love with another. But her best friend, the ever-practical Lady Lucinda Abernathy, wants to save Hermione from a disastrous alliance, so she offers to help Gregory win her over. But in the process, Lucy falls in love. With Gregory! Except...

Lucy is engaged. And her uncle is not inclined to let her back out of the betrothal, even once Gregory comes to his senses and realizes that it is Lucy, with her sharp wit and sunny smile, who makes his heart sing. And now, on the way to the wedding, Gregory must risk everything to ensure that when it comes time to kiss the bride, he is the only man standing at the altar ....

My rating: 3 stars

1274. Mine Till Midnight (Lisa Kleypas)

2010-04-20T16:17:00.001-07:00

Synopsis:

When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.

Wealthy beyond most men's dreams, Cam has tired of society's petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter ....

My rating: 2 stars

1273. Dark Lover (J. R. Ward)

2010-04-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

My rating: 2 stars

My review: Hackneyed writing, hackneyed story.

1272. Indiscreet (Carolyn Jewel)

2010-04-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Edward, Marquess of Foye, would have been happy to continue his life as an unmarried gentleman rake, until his brother's death changes everything. As the last of his line Edward must now marry. Having already had his heart broken by a capricious young girl, he vows to find an older woman who is seasoned, mature...and no threat to his feelings. Then he meets a woman who will require him to risk everything for their love.

My rating: 3 stars

1271. The Runagates Club (John Buchan)

2010-04-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Mixed collection of twelve short stories, mostly of horror, espionage, or the supernatural, including Buchan's popular "The Green Wildebeest."

My rating: 5 stars

My review: So much fun to read. One of my favorite books ever.

1270. Annabelle's Courtship (Lucy Monroe)

2010-04-19T17:50:00.001-07:00

Synopsis:
Ian MacKay, Laird of Graenfrae, has no use for love or marriage. However, his stepfathers will mandates that marriage is what he must haveto an Englishwoman. A sensible man, Ian develops a list of requirements in a wife: Plain, moderately dowered, older and practical. He thinks he has found the perfect candidate in Lady Annabelle. Labeled The Ordinary her first season, Annabelle longs for a man who will see her as beautiful and love her as her father loved her mother. When she meets Ian, she thinks she has at last found that man. Until his proposal, in which he has the audacity to list his requirements. She refuses his proposal. He informs her that she will marry him at the end of the season. The battle of wills is on.

My rating: 2 stars

1269. Cold As Ice (Anne Stuart)

2010-04-19T17:48:00.001-07:00

Synopsis:
The job was supposed to be dead easy -- hand-deliver some legal papers to billionaire philanthropist Harry Van Dorn's extravagant yacht, get his signature and be done. But Manhattan lawyer Genevieve Spenser soon realizes she's in the wrong place at the wrong time, and that the publicly benevolent playboy has a sick, vicious side. As he tries to make her his plaything for the evening, eager to use and abuse her until he discards her with the rest of his victims, Genevieve must keep her wits if she intends to survive the night.

But there's someone else on the ship who knows the true depths of Van Dorn's evil. Peter Jensen is far more than the unassuming personal assistant he pretends to be -- he's a secret operative who will stop at nothing to ensure Harry's deadly Rule of Seven terror campaign dies with him. But Genevieve's presence has thrown a wrench into his plans, and now he must decide whether to risk his mission to keep her alive, or allow her to become collateral damage ....

My rating: 4 stars

1268. Black Ice (Anne Stuart)

2010-04-19T17:46:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Living paycheck to paycheck in Paris, American book translator Chloe Underwood would give anything for some excitement and passion -- even a little danger. So when she's offered a lucrative weekend gig translating at a business conference in a remote chateau, she jumps at the chance to shake things up.

Then by chance Chloe discovers her employers are anything but the entrepreneurs they appear, and suddenly she knows far too much. Her clients are illegal arms dealers, and one of them is ordered to kill her. But instead, Bastien Toussaint drags Chloe away, and the next thing she knows she's on the run with the most terrifying and seductive man she's ever met. What were his motives -- and would she live long enough to find out?

My rating: 3 stars

1267. Ice Storm (Anne Stuart)

2010-04-19T17:43:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
The powerful head of the covert mercenary organization The Committee, Isobel Lambert is a sleek, sophisticated professional who comes into contact with some of the most dangerous people in the world. But beneath Isobel's cool exterior a ghost exists, haunting her with memories of another life . . . a life that ended long ago.

But Isobel's past and present are about to collide when Serafin, mercenary, assassin and the most dangerous man in the world, makes a deal with The Committee. Seventeen years ago Isobel shot him and left him for dead. Now it looks as if he's tracked her down for revenge. But Isobel knows all too well that looks can be deceiving . . . and that's what she's counting on to keep her cover in this international masquerade of murder.

My rating: 3 stars

1266. Wine, Tarts and Sex (Susan Johnson)

2010-04-19T17:41:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
World-renowned chef Jake Chambers could have had any ingŽnue he wanted in California since the kitchen isn't the only room in the house where the hard-bodied hunk has special talents. Still, when he realized there might be more to life than glitz and silicone, he left for Minneapolis to buy a local joint and try to clear his head.

But even though he's no longer serving the glitterati, that doesn't mean he's about to compromise quality and serve a Minnesota wine. However, local vintner Liv Bell-with curves even more delicious than his tapas-has other plans once she lays eyes on this Adonis. Determined to promote her vineyard's juicy bounty, this sun-kissed goddess might just bring Jake around to at least tasting what she has to offer.

My rating: 2 stars

1265. The Charlemagne Pursuit (Steve Berry)

2010-04-19T17:38:00.001-07:00

Synopsis:

Ex-agent Cotton Malone wants to know what really happened to his father, officially lost at sea when his submarine went down in the north Atlantic in 1971. But when he uses his government contacts to obtain the submarine's sealed file, he finds he is not the only person looking for answers.

Malone is in the line of fire when he is attacked in an attempt to take the file. He is pitched into a lethal power struggle between Dorothea Lindauer and Christl Falk, twin sisters whose twisted ambition takes sibling rivalry to new levels.

Malone and the twins embark on a dangerous adventure involving Nazi explorations in Antarctica, US government conspiracies, and a series of cryptic historical clues built into the legend of Charlemagne. Forced to choose a side when neither can win, Malone is determined to uncover the truth behind his father's death - but will he be able to escape his own?

My rating: 2 stars

1264. The Truth About Lord Stoneville (Sabrina Jeffries)

2010-04-19T17:28:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville, has been London's most notorious rake for years. Fed up with his behavior, his grandmother threatens to disinherit him if he doesn't tame his wild ways and wed within the year. Outraged, Oliver decides to hire a woman from a brothel to pose as his fiancée to prove that he can't be forced into marriage. When he meets Maria Butterfield, a beautiful American woman who is searching for her fiancé in the most unlikely of places, he knows she's perfect for his ruse. But before long, Oliver finds himself willing to risk anything to make Maria his - even his heart, and the dark secret he hides inside it.

My rating: 2 stars

1263. How to Dazzle a Duke (Claudia Dain)

2010-04-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Miss Penelope Prestwick wants a duke for a husband, and clearly the dashing Duke of Edenham is the best choice. Just as Lady Dalby is clearly the best person to arrange the match. But how exactly should Penelope go about dazzling a duke? Surely a show of cleavage never hurt. Perhaps a kiss? And a bit of competition might do nicely. To that end, Penelope approaches the Marquis of Iveston requesting that he kindly appear interested in her so that the Duke will take note. When he does, the game begins as all of Society tries to determine who will actually marry Penelope.

My rating: 4 stars

1262. The Mediterranean Billionaire's Blackmail Bargain (Abby Green)

2010-04-19T17:24:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

When Alicia turns up at Dante D'Aquanni's Italian villa claiming he's responsible for her sister's pregnancy, he's furious. He knows her type - and he'll make her pay!

When it turns out Dante wasn't her sister's lover, Alicia has to make amends, and Dante wants more than a mere apology. He wants Alicia. She's whisked into his glamorous world. But despite the sizzling chemistry between them, Alicia knows she must leave - because she's falling for a man who despises her ....

My rating: 4 stars

1261. The Nine Tailors (Dorothy Sayers)

2010-04-19T17:22:00.001-07:00

Synopsis:
When his sexton finds a corpse in the wrong grave, the rector of Fenchurch St Paul asks Lord Peter Wimsey to find out who the dead man was and how he came to be there. The lore of bell-ringing and a brilliantly-evoked village in the remote fens of East Anglia are the unforgettable background to a story of an old unsolved crime and its violent unravelling twenty years later.

My rating: 4 stars

1260. The Greek Tycoon's Disobedient Bride (Lynne Graham)

2010-04-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
It amazed Ophelia that Lysander Metaxis - a Greek billionaire notorious for his harem of adoring women - wanted to marry her, a humble gardener with a crumbling old manor house and debts up to her ears.

But soon she realized Lysander didn't want her - he wanted her property and her body. But marry him she would, because she had no choice if she wanted to keep what she cherished most. And disobedient she would be, because her new husband had no intention of loving her ....

My rating: 4 stars

1259. Bending the Rules (Susan Andersen)

2010-04-18T18:30:00.001-07:00

Synopsis:
Tall, dark and intense, Detective Jason de Sanges excites all kinds of fantasies in Poppy Calloway. But when she suggests the three teens caught spray-painting a Seattle neighborhood be given art-related community service and he just wants to see them pay - all bets are off.

With the men in his family always in and out of the slammer, Jase was raised in foster care. He knows what it takes to walk the line. And his number one self-imposed rule? Avoid his hunger for sexy, irresistible Poppy, who challenges him on everything. But it's a vow that's getting harder and harder to keep ....

My rating: 2 stars

1258. Taken By the Night (Kathryn Smith)

2010-04-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
I enjoy carnal pleasures like any mortal man, but six hundred years of existence have taught me loss. Best to stay away from people and save myself the heartache. Then I arrive at the notorious London brothel Maison Rouge, and my life, such as it is, will never be the same again.

Ivy Dearing, daughter of the infamous Madam, has requested my assistance. Two of her friends have been murdered, and she is determined to find their killer. I know better than to agree to help, yet Ivy is impossible to resist. No stranger to vampires, she has awakened desires within me that are as potent as my thirst for blood—desires that can only be satisfied by Ivy herself. But when there is another murder, it is all I can do to protect the woman I love from an evil more powerful than the undead . . .

My rating: 2 stars

1257. Cutting Loose (Susan Andersen)

2010-04-18T18:15:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Jane thinks nothing can make her lose her cool

But the princess of propriety blows a gasket the night she meets the contractor restoring the Wolcott mansion. Devlin Kavanagh's rugged sex appeal may buckle her knees, but the man is out of control! Jane had to deal with theatrics growing up - she won't tolerate them in someone hired to work on the house she and her two best friends have just inherited.

Dev could renovate the mansion in his sleep. But ever since the prissy owner spotted him jet-lagged, exhausted and hit hard by a couple of welcome-home drinks, she's been on his case. Yet there's something about her. Jane hides behind conservative clothes and a frosty manner, but her seductive blue eyes and leopard-print heels hint at a woman just dying to cut loose!

My rating: 2 stars

1256. Hot Property (Carly Phillips)

2010-04-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Just one short season ago, major league center fielder John Roper had it all: the looks - and personal life - of a sports hero and the public's adoration. But this hot property's lucky streak has run out. After a World Series disaster, fans diss him, shock jocks mock him and his dysfunctional family hassles him for money he really can't spare. Now it's up to him, and Hot Zone publicist Amy Stone, to get his life back on track.

Amy finds it's easier said than done. What with the constant intrusions of his nutty family, a crazed fan playing stalker, and Roper's refusal to put his own needs first, she's starting to think that life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be. But when the two retreat to a secluded lodge, the sexy center fielder throws Amy a curveball - one she never saw coming ....

My rating: 2 stars

1255. I'm In No Mood For Love (Rachel Gibson)

2010-04-18T17:56:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
What is Clare Wingate doing? One minute she's suffering in a pretty-in-pink gown she'll never wear again, and the next thing she knows it's morning . . . and she has the nastiest hangover of her life.

To make matters worse, she's wearing nothing but a spritz of Escada and lying next to Sebastian Vaughan . . . her girlhood crush turned sexy, globe-hopping journalist. Somewhere between the toast and the toss of the bouquet she'd gotten herself into a whole lot of trouble.

Clare had the right to go wild-;after all, she'd been knocked off her dyed-to-match shoes after finding her own fiancÃ© in a compromising position with the washing machine repairman. Clearly her society wedding is off.

But Sebastian pushed all the wrong buttons-;and some of the right ones, too. Clare is in no mood for love-;not even for lust-;and wants to forget about Sebastian and his six-pack abs ASAP. But he isn't in the mood to go away, and his kiss is impossible to forget.

1254. Lessons From a Courtesan (Jenna Petersen)

2010-04-18T17:48:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Lesson #1: Every man loves a mystery.

A scandalous siren called "Ria" has electrified the ton. Every gentleman in London desires her; every woman envies her. And they are all desperate to know the secrets of the tantalizing, seductively beautiful courtesan. All except Justin, the Earl of Baybary. He knows all about Ria. He learned every inch of her tender skin, every taste of her luscious lips . . . on their wedding night.

Lesson #2: No man can make you lose control . . . unless you let him.

Though theirs was an arranged marrige, still Victoria surrendered to passion and gave herself to Justin completely. When he left her alone the next morning, she swore she would never again let him into her bed. Now, though she has other reasons for returning to the city, she enjoys tormenting Justin, letting him see the way other men lust for her. But keeping herself from him is such exquisite torture . . . and forgiveness will lead to an ecstasy unbelievably divine.

My rating: 3 stars

1253. The Eduction of Little Tree (Forrest Carter)

2010-04-18T17:33:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
The super-seller memoir of a Cherokee boyhood in the 1930s. The most sensitive and evocative autobiographical account ever of the Cherokee way, as seen through the eyes of a young boy in the Appalachian Mountains.

My rating: 2 stars

My review: Another book I read in school and disliked.

1252. Scot on the Rocks (Brenda Janowitz)

2010-04-18T17:12:00.001-07:00

Synopsis:

When her ex-boyfriend, Trip, gets engaged to Hollywood's latest It Girl, Manhattan attorney Brooke Miller plans to attend the wedding. Who says a modern girl can't stay friends with her ex? Besides, Brooke's got her sexy Scottish fiance, Douglas, to take as her date. Okay, so maybe he's not exactly her fiance, but they're living together in his apartment, so she'll be getting the ring any minute, right? Wrong.

After a fight leaves her without a boyfriend (much less a fiance) just days before the wedding, Brooke faces the ultimate humiliation of attending her ex-boyfriend's nuptials alone. Desperate to find a replacement to fill Douglas's kilt, Brooke concocts an outrageous plan to survive the wedding and win the man of her dreams, all with her dignity ever-so-slightly intact.

My rating: 4 stars

1251. Nothing Denied (Jess Michaels)

2010-04-18T16:49:00.001-07:00

Summary:
Entering her seventh unsuccessful season, Beatrice Albright is beginning to realize that her beauty cannot compensate for her shrewish ways. A desperate woman whom no one wants, she must seek a man whom no one else will marry: the despised and mysterious Marquis of Highcroft, Gareth Berenger. Rumor has it he is a killer, but Beatrice is far more terrified of spinsterhood-and the company of her mother-than she is of Berenger's dark reputation. But Gareth, while intrigued by the alluring hellion's proposal, has a proposition of his own. A man of particular tastes, he will wed no woman unwilling to satisfy them. His bride must be adventurous, afraid of nothing, and eager to experience any passion and pleasure he can devise, no matter how shocking and taboo. If Beatrice agrees to a trial affair-if she can happily shed all her inhibitions-in the end they will be wed. And so the die is cast-as Beatrice and Gareth embark on an erotic path where danger awaits them at every turn, en route to a world of exquisite ecstasy where there is nothing forbidden...nothing denied.

My rating: 4 stars

1250. Holy Disorders (Edmund Crispin)

2010-04-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Gervase Fen--the eccentric Oxford don with a knack for solving âimpossibleâ crimes--made his debut in The Case of the Gilded Fly, which Edmund Crispin (in reality, composer Bruce Montgomery) wrote to win a bet. With Holy Disorders, Crispinâs skills matured, but Fen remains as maddeningly childish as ever, still deliciously fond of his own wit and erudition, and given to quoting Lewis Carroll at inappropriate occasions. First published in 1945, Holy Disorders takes Fen to the town of Tolnbridge, where he is happily bounding around with a butterfly net until the cathedral organist is murdered, giving Fen the chance to play sleuth. The man didnât have an enemy in the world, and even his music was inoffensive: Could he have fallen afoul of a nest of German spies or of the local coven of witches, ominously rumored to have been practicing since the 17th century?

My rating: 3 stars

1249. Taboo (Jess Michaels)

2010-04-17T19:08:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Cassandra Willows has made a name for herself as one of London's most sought-after seamstresses - and as the creator of intimate "toys" much beloved in the bed chambers of elite ladies and lords. But her success cannot soothe her guilt and pain over a most devastating betrayal.

Nathan Manning, Earl of Blackhearth, will never forgive the exquisite Cassandra for abandoning him without a word on the day they were to elope. Now he is back in London and hungry for revenge. Armed with scandalous, provocative memories, the handsome, vengeful nobleman blackmails his former lover into a most illicit affair...and reignites the raging fire that once consumed them both.

But by losing themselves in the throes of erotic ecstasy reborn, Nathan and Cassandra are courting gravest danger - vulnerable to a past that threatens to destroy their lives and passion still; at risk from dark, unspoken secrets that are shockingly, perilously...taboo.

My rating: 4 stars

1248. Carnal Deceptions (Scottie Barrett)

2010-04-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Tess Starling is willing to risk everything and offer anything to avenge her fathers death. Upon leaving her fathers gravesite, Tess spies creditors confiscating the finery of her first London Season. But her gowns will do little to satisfy her fathers debts. Fleet Prison awaits her. Tess dons a homely disguise, cloaking herself in mourning weeds. She is determined to evade the authorities until she brings to justice the swindler who ruined her father. Resolute in her quest, she will transform anew, reinventing herself as a temptress to seduce the villain. She only wants for hands-on training, but the man who volunteers proves too much of a distraction. Everything about Tallon Hawkes, the Earl of Marcliffe, fascinates, including the battle scars marking his body. A motivated pupil, Tess yields eagerly to his sexual demands. Long before he discovers the sensuous female beneath the layers of black crepelong before he discovers the brilliant copper-colored tresses hidden by the ratty wiglong before he tastes the sweetness of her skin, Tallon Hawkes heart has been hooked. Tallon plays along with Tesss scheme, but he is distrustful and jealous of her obsession with their shared enemy. Tallon is determined to bring her dangerous game to an end. But will his arrogant maneuver lose him any chance with Tess?

My rating: 4 stars

1247. The Club (Sharon Page)

2010-04-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
It is London's most secretive gentlemen's club - a place where no well-bred lady would dare to be seen. But Lady Jane Beaumont has no choice. Her friend Del has vanished, and Jane must enter into a dangerous charade to find her. Now, within the gilded walls of this erotic lair, Jane awaits the lover she has procured for the evening. But the man who enters her bedchamber is no stranger. He is Del's brother and London's most notorious rake - a man on a rescue mission of his own. Christian is intrigued by the innocent beauty who clearly does not belong in the notorious brothel. And as the two seek out the damning secrets of the club . . . as Christian initiates Jane into the ways of true sensual pleasure, she knows she has entered the most dangerous place of all - where the price of temptation could be her heart ....

My rating: 3 stars

1246. In Bed With a Stranger (Mary Wine)

2010-04-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Brodick McJames is an earl in name only. To secure his clan's future he needs an English wife. Mary Stanford, daughter of the Earl of Warwickshire, will suit perfectly. He's never met her, but what matter? She'll grace his bed eventually, and once she bears his child he need see her no more. Anne Copper looks just like her noble half-sister, but she was born illegitimate, and can never forget it. The best she can hope for is to stay a serving girl in her own father's house. But when Lady Mary finds herself betrothed to a Scot, it seems there's a use for Anne after all...The woman who arrives in Alcaon is not what Brodick expects, and the passion that grows between them promises far more than a marriage of convenience. When fate draws two together, it may take more than a noblewoman's plot to part them ....

My rating: 3 stars

1245. My Darling Caroline (Adele Ashworth)

2010-04-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
One by one, Lady Caroline Grayson watched her four sisters celebrate their betrothals, truly sure that marriage was not in her futureâ -- and perfectly pleased with that fact. Or so she thought.

Brent Ravenscroft, Earl of Weymerth, nearly gave his life for the Crown. He returned to England a hero with no intention of taking a bride, certain his brusque demeanor would intimidate any young ladies drawn to his good looks -- or so he thought.

Bound by a business transaction, Caroline and Brent begin life as husband and wife. Utterly determined not to fall for each other, they stubbornly ignore the sparks flying between them and keep secrets at every turn. They would resist the lure of loveâand the pleasures of the marriage bed -- forever . . . or so they thought.

My rating: 3 stars

1244. Delicious (Shayla Black)

2010-04-17T18:54:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Luc's entire future is planned out-but there is one very sexy obstacle in his path: Alyssa, a strip club owner with whom Luc recently shared one night of wild abandon. It left Luc terrified by his loss of selfcontrol-and Alyssa desperate for more. But Luc is not the only man desperate to have Alyssa...and that's just one of her secrets-secrets as dark and mysterious and delicious as her fantasies.

My rating: 4 stars

1243. Tempt Me at Twilight (Lisa Kleypas)

2010-04-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Poppy Hathaway, who has always longed for a normal, ordinary life, has been abandoned by her true love, Michael Bayning. Caught up in scandal, she has only one way out - to marry Harry Rutledge, a handsome and mysterious hotel owner. But Harry is a man of many secrets, and eventually Poppy faces a heartwrenching question: What does a heroine do when she ends up married to the villain?

My rating: 3 stars

1242. A Wicked Lord at the Wedding (Jillian Hunter)

2010-04-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
What is a neglected wife to do while her husband disappears on clandestine missions and unknown gambits? Play the spy game herself, if only to fill lonely nights once flush with erotic delight. When Eleanor Prescott married the handsome infantry officer who pursued her between missions, she anticipated anything but a six-year estrangement. Now the enigmatic husband who fired her body with his sensual touch is back-to woo her, win her, and unwrap all her secrets.

Sebastien Boscastle is prepared for battle when it comes to his crumbling marriage, but not to catch his wife prowling about the night in disguise. And yet Eleanor's game of espionage and seduction only heightens his devilish desire to reclaim every inch of her. From the back alleys of London to the silken sheets of the marital bed, Sebastien inflicts the sweetest of sensual assaults, ready to possess everything Eleanor is willing to surrender.

My rating: 3 stars

1241. The Elusive Bride (Stephanie Laurens)

2010-04-17T18:40:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Gareth Hamilton is stunned when he recognizes Emily Ensworth on his ship. The veil she wears is not enough to disguise her from him - or from the man hired to kill her. Whisking Emily to safety, Gareth realizes that the Black Cobra is on to them. In order to protect her, Gareth must let Emily in on the dangerous plot she is now intimately involved in. Emily Ensworth is no wilting flower. She knew the packet the dying soldier thrust upon her held vital information, and she has every intention of seeing it into safe hands. But she is also determined to bring the men trying to kill her to justice. Together, she and Gareth do their best to lure the Black Cobra and his men into the open. Putting their lives at risk draws Emily and Gareth ever closer together, the constant danger sparking a passion neither one can resist. But with threats lurking around every corner, Gareth and Emily must work harder than ever to make sure that their newfound love isn't snuffed out before it ever has a chance.

My rating: 2 stars

1240. Something About You (Julie James)

2010-04-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Staying overnight in a luxury hotel, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde overhears a high-profile murder involving a U.S. Senator. Special Agent Jack Pallas is assigned to the investigation-the same Jack Pallas who still blames her for nearly ruining his career three years ago. Now the pair will have to put their rocky past behind them, focus on the case at hand-and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension.

My rating: 3 stars

My review: I gave this book 3 stars only because it's Julie James and she set a very high standard with her previous two books. This one doesn't measure up to the other two but it's still a fun read.

1239. Seduced By a Stranger (Eve Silver)

2010-04-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

The vast, dense forest and murky lake that surround Cairncroft Abbey aren't the only menacing elements that envelop the estate. For a dark history lies behind its walls - where secrets and evil still linger...Catherine Weston arrives at Cairncroft Abbey to visit her childhood friend Madeline St. Aubyn whose health seems to deteriorate with each passing day. Even stranger, Madeline appears to grow more nervous whenever she is in the presence of her cousin, Gabriel. But Gabriel has quite a different effect on Catherine - stirring a longing deep within her...Gabriel St. Aubyn is haunted by the curse that has plagued his family for decades. Living with the constant torment that he too will succumb to it one day, he has resigned himself to a solitary existence. Yet when he meets Catherine, he cannot resist her company - or his growing desire for her. But when a young woman is found dead, Catherine cannot ignore the link between this horrific crime and Gabriel. Is he the tender, charismatic man she loves - or a sinister stranger waiting to make her his next victim?

My rating: 3 stars

My review: A great gothic read. My only problem was that the attraction between Catherine and Gabriel seems too sudden. I think that this book would have been better with minimal romance between the two main characters and more mystery and gothic tones.

1238. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Sarah MacLean)

2010-04-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen's club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried - and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing.

But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss - to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston - charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all - the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love ....

My rating: 4 stars

1237. Flowers from the Storm (Laura Kinsale)

2010-04-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

The Duke of Jervaulx was brilliant -- and dangerous.

Considered dissolute, reckless, and extravagant, he was transparently referred to as the "D of J" in scandal sheets. But sometimes the most womanizing rakehell can be irresistible, and even his most casual attentions fascinated the sheltered Maddy Timms.

Then one fateful day she receives the shocking news -- the duke is lost to the world. And Maddy knows it is her destiny to help him and her only chance to find the true man behind the wicked façade.

But she never dreamed her gentle, healing touch would alter his life and her own so completely -- and bind them together in need, desire ... and love.

My rating: 2 stars

My review: An unusual story which is well-written. Unfortunately, it's a bit too serious and angst-y for my taste. Also, I don't think that the Quaker aspect was necessary to the story.

1236. Rogue In My Arms (Celeste Bradley)

2010-04-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

When Sir Colin Lambert learns that the little girl left on the steps of his gentleman's club belongs to one of its members, he's filled with hope. Could Melody be the daughter of the beautiful, impulsive actress who broke his heart? Colin is determined to find out with the help of his lost love's former seamstress, Miss Prudence Filby. But soon, Pru's disarming manner and seductive voice are stirring all manner of doubts in his mind - as well as some delicious fantasies.

Pru's only motivation in helping Colin is to reclaim the wages she's owed. Or at least, itwas, before days and nights traveling together draw them into a heated, thrilling intimacy. But as soon as Pru discovers his noble status, she suspects she's been a fool. To a man of his standing, she can hardly be more than a dalliance, even if their scorching passion makes her long to take center stage in his life - and in his arms.

My rating: 4 stars

My review: Rollicking good fun! I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

1235. The Geography of Bliss (Eric Weiner)

2010-04-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Part foreign affairs discourse, part humor, and part twisted self-help guide, The Geography of Bliss takes the listener from America to Iceland to India in search of happiness, or, in the crabby author's case, moments of "un-unhappiness." The book uses a beguiling mixture of travel, psychology, science and humor to investigate not what happiness is, but where it is. Are people in Switzerland happier because it is the most democratic country in the world? Do citizens of Qatar, awash in petrodollars, find joy in all that cash? Is the King of Bhutan a visionary for his initiative to calculate Gross National Happiness? Why is Asheville, North Carolina so damn happy? With engaging wit and surprising insights, Eric Weiner answers those questions and many others, offering travelers of all moods some interesting new ideas for sunnier destinations and dispositions.

My rating: 5 stars

1234 (!). In Scandal They Wed (Sophie Jordan)

2010-04-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

What kind of woman would marry a man she only just met?

The kind with nothing to lose.

Long ago, Evelyn Cross sacrificed her good name, her freedom, and any hope for love. Now, in the remote English countryside, she struggles to survive and avoid the scandal threatening to destroy all she holds dear . . . until a sinfully handsome viscount arrives on her doorstep, offering marriage, salvation, and tempting her with so much more ....

What kind of man would marry a woman he only just met?

The kind bound by duty.

Fresh from war, Spencer Lockhart returns home to claim his title and right the wrong his cousin perpetrated upon Evelyn Cross. In need of a wife, his marrying her is a small price to pay for duty. But when he meets her, the fiery chit is not what he expects to find in a ruined lady. As desire flares hotly between them, honor is the last thing on his mind ....

What kind of man and woman would marry when they've only just met?

The kind who could ignite a scandal with just one touch.

My rating: 3 stars

1233. Sinjin (Julia Templeton)

2010-04-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

The oldest of the Rayborne brothers, Sinjin's insatiable appetite for sex has earned him the nickname 'Sin'. But his frequent visits to London's most infamous pleasure houses must now come to an end. For a rogue who's accustomed to indulging his every desire, one woman can never be enough ... until Sinjin locks eyes with Katelyn Davenport, and knows she is the one woman he can't get enough of...Betrothed to a much older man in payment for her late father's gambling debts, Katelyn dreads her wedding day - and her wedding night even more. When she meets Sinjin at a soiree intended to introduce him to the eligible young ladies of the ton, she envies the lucky woman who will ultimately become his bride. But when Sinjin seduces Katelyn, giving her just a taste of his legendary sensual skills, she can only imagine herself in his bed every night ....

My rating: 2 stars

My review: Where to start with this book? The ridiculous plot? I love romances and hot romances but the plot was too much even for me. The wooden writing? Or the hero's name Sinjin? Uh, no one is actually NAMED Sinjin; it's how one pronounces the name St. John. Or the fact that the hero and the heroine get it on, like, ten minutes after they meet?

1232. With Seduction In Mind (Laura Lee Guhrke)

2010-04-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

London Society is harsh for a young woman with no family connections who has to work for a living. But when Daisy Merrick is sacked from yet another job, the feisty and outspoken miss comes up with a plan that could give her a future beyond her wildest dreams. There's only one problem. Her success depends on a man, the most infuriating, impossible, immovable man she's ever met. His resolution . . .

Sebastian Grant, Earl of Avermore, is England's most infamous author. Known for his notorious reputation, he is more interested in play than work, and has no intention of cooperating when Daisy shows up on his doorstep with a mad plan. The provoking, fire-haired beauty stirs his senses beyond belief, and Sebastian knows he has only one way to stop her -- seduction.

My rating: 4 stars

1231. Slow Heat (Jill Shalvis)

2010-04-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Baseball player Wade O'Riley's bad-boy image is about to be cleaned up by publicist Samantha McNead. But the sexual tension between them is about to drive Wade to his knees.

My rating: 2 stars

My review: Wooden writing.

1230. Every Night I'm Yours (Christie Kelley)

2010-01-20T20:50:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

At twenty-six, aspiring novelist Avis Copley intends to wear spinsterhood as a badge of honour. But when she discovers a volume of erotica that ignites a searing fire within her, Avis realizes just how much she doesn't know about the actual pleasures of the flesh. Determined to learn more, she devises a daring plan...Avis chooses Emory Billingsworth, a fellow novelist - not to mention a beautiful specimen of manhood - to instruct her in carnal pleasure. But when the brash earl of Selby, Banning Talbot, a man she has known for years, unearths Avis' true intentions, he claims she's made a dangerously bad choice. Volunteering his services for one wicked night of reckless, abandoned passion, Banning promises he will satisfy all of her deepest longings. Yet, Banning cannot begin to imagine the effect his wilful, voluptuous, and very eager student will have on him - or how far an innocent lesson in desire can go.

My rating: 3 stars

1229. Seducing the Heiress (Olivia Drake)

2010-01-20T20:43:00.001-08:00

Synopsis:
Her wealth and beauty have made Miss Portia Crompton the catch of the season. Secretly determined to wed the maharajah's son she left behind in India, Portia ignores the money-hungry bucks who ply her with bouquets and bonbons. But one suitor will not be deterred: Colin Byrd, Viscount Ratcliffe. He is persistent and presumptuous--and wickedly tempting.

Colin has no delusions about romance. He's a rogue, a womanizer, and a murderer, and seduction comes as easily to him as breathing. Portia's fortune is an irresistible lure until Colin's mercenary scheme hits a snag. Winning her dowry is no longer enough--he wants her heart and her passion. The more adamant she is in her refusal, the more determined he is to seduce her...

My rating: 4 stars

1228. Seduce Me (Dahlia Schweitzer)

2010-01-20T20:34:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

Raw and honest, provocative and titillating, Dahlia Schweitzer's Seduce Me lays bare the secrets of desire in stories of sensuous encounters, illicit affairs, forbidden passions-and obsessive hungers that must be satisfied, no matter where or when they arise. In these vivid tales of lust without limits, the lines are blurred between fantasy and reality, propriety and necessity. There are no boundaries or taboos, only needs to be fulfilled. Here women and men risk everything in pursuit of sexual satisfaction-and business always mixes with pleasure.

My rating: 3 stars

1227. Lessons Fro a Scarlet Lady (Emma Wildes)

2010-01-20T20:32:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
The Duke of Rolthven's new wife, Brianna, is the perfect aristocratic bride. So what would society say if they saw her with a copy of Lady Rothburg's Advice--a courtesan's lessons for the boudoir? When his innocent wife suddenly becomes a vixen in the bedroom, the proper Duke is truly astounded by her seductive powers. Following a courtesan's advice might lead to trouble-but will it lead to Brianna's ultimate desire: winning her husband's love?

My rating: 4 stars

1226. Tucker's Claim (Sarah McCarty)

2010-01-20T20:17:00.001-08:00

Synopsis:

Tucker McCade has known violence his whole life: orphaned in a massacre, abused as a "half-breed" child, trained as a ruthless Texas Ranger, he's learned the hard way that might makes right.

So even he is shocked when he falls for Sallie Mae Reynolds, a Quaker nurse. Unable to resist Tucker's charm, character and chiseled body, she throws herself into their torrid affair, indulging every one of her wildest sexual fantasies. Tucker's occupation, however, is the one thing about him she can't embrace. A staunch pacifist, Sallie Mae can't understand how his strong, caressing hand can clench in fury or pull a trigger to take a life. In this lawless land, Tucker knows you have to fight to survive. But when Sallie Mae becomes pregnant, he's willing to do whatever it takes to have his family - including hanging up his guns.

Every night they spend together exploring new heights of ecstasy binds them ever closer, slowly erasing their differences.until the day Tucker's past comes calling, precipitating an explosive showdown between her faith, his promise and the need for revenge..

My rating: 4 stars

1225. A Bride for His Convenience (Edith Layton)

2010-01-20T20:12:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

Devilishly handsome Lord Ian Sutcombe, the new Marquess Sutcombe, has inherited debt and a bankrupt ancestral Hall thanks to poor management made from his late father and an avaricious step-mother. He has no choice but to seek a marriage of convenience and sets his sight on Hannah Leeds, a newly wealthy merchant's daughter. The ambitious merchant is quite eager for his two other daughters to find titled husbands, and ensure his name will be forever linked with the nobility. Hannah, a very pretty country girl has no desire for the excessively pampered and cloistered lifestyle led by the aristocracy but was recently mysteriously jilted by the commoner she loved. Numbed by the rejection and pressured by her father, she resignedly agrees to marry Ian. They wed, and soon learn that passion and desire and a commonality of interests force them to know each other, yet their pride may prevent them from discovering a once-in-a-lifetime love.

My rating: 2 stars

1224. Ashenden: Or the British Agent (W. Somerset Maugham)

2010-01-20T19:50:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

Inspired by Maughams's own experiences as a British secret agent in World War I, this series of stories features a fictional spy, John Ashenden, whose dangerous assignments entangle him with traitors, assassins and beautiful but treacherous women.

My rating: 5 stars

My review: One of my favorite spy novels. Sadly, it is rare to find a copy.

1223. Riding Temptation (Jaci Burton)

2010-01-20T19:32:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
He's a biker working undercover for the Feds. She has reasons of her own for joining the Wild Riders. Together, they're burning up the asphalt and tearing headlong into danger and passion.

The guys always thought of Jessie as their kid sister, except Diaz Delgado. The past few years he's been watching her - and Jessie's glad somebody is. Delgado's dark good looks and killer body have tempted her since day one. Diaz's unbrotherly urges have been hard to fight but the last thing he wants is to hurt Jessie. But when they both go undercover with killer survivalists, he knows it'll be hard to keep his distance - especially when the mission takes a risky turn. Now Diaz has no choice but to open himself up to the one woman strong enough to take him on.

My rating: 3 stars

1222. Lisa's Gift (Mackenzie McKade)

2010-01-20T19:28:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

Friendship crosses boundaries and love becomes a triangle. Can Jana learn to trust through submission?

My rating: 4 stars

1221. Key West (Lacey Alexander)

2010-01-20T19:25:00.001-08:00

Synopsis:

Carrie Marsh is on her honeymoon in Key West - alone. After the devastation of discovering her fiancé with another woman on her wedding day, she thought the trip might relax her. She has no idea she'll be swept off her feet by sexy beach boy Chris McCann. Combine Chris's searing seductiveness with the island's legendary free-spirited debauchery, and before her vacation is through, Carrie will experience a stunning sexual awakening she's not ready to leave behind when the trip is over.

My rating: 4 stars

1220. An Insatiable Passion (Lynne Graham)

2010-01-17T18:39:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Kitty thought things would have changed

Eight years ago she had fled from her home, away from the heartbreak Jake had caused her.

Now, returning to the small town for her grandmother's funeral, she was determined to lay the ghosts of the past to rest. After all, she'd made a good life for herself as a well-known actress.

So why was it that all her poise deserted her when she saw Jake again? He was as attractive as before, but was it because she sensed he was infinitely more dangerous?

My rating: 3 stars

1219. The Salvatore Marriage (Michelle Reid)

2010-01-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

When Luca presses Shannon to marry him, she knows he's not asking because of love. Shannon's sister was married to Luca's brother and now both are dead, leaving behind them a baby girl just a few days old.

My rating: 3 stars

1218. Your Bed or Mine? (Kate Hoffmann)

2010-01-17T18:30:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Caley Lambert didn't expect that a few nights at the family cottage for her sister Emma's wedding would turn her life upside down. But that was before she got lost in the dark, was propositioned by a cop and ended up in the wrong bed with the brother of the groom.

When she and Jake Burton were teenagers, Jake had been the perfect boy next door--and the object of Caley's most daring fantasies. But that was back when she was a kid. Caley's definitely over him now. Or so she thinks…

Because the perfect boy is all man now. Not to mention an endlessly inventive lover…

My rating: 3 stars

1217. The Venetian Betrayal (Steve Berry)

2010-01-17T18:18:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

In 323 B.C.E, having conquered Persia, Alexander the Great set his sights on Arabia, then suddenly succumbed to a strange fever. Locating his final resting place - unknown to this day - remains a tantalizing goal for both archaeologists and treasure hunters. Now the quest for this coveted prize is about to heat up. And Cotton Malone - former U.S. Justice Department agent turned rare-book dealer - will be drawn into an intense geopolitical chess game.

After narrowly escaping incineration in a devastating fire that consumes a Danish museum, Cotton learns from his friend, the beguiling adventurer Cassiopeia Vitt, that the blaze was neither an accident nor an isolated incident. As part of campaign of arson intended to mask a far more diabolical design, buildings across Europe are being devoured by infernos of unnatural strength.

And from the ashes of the U.S.S.R., a new nation has arisen: Former Soviet republics have consolidated into the Central Asian Federation. At its helm is Supreme Minister Irina Zovastina, a cunning despot with a talent for politics, a taste for blood sport, and the single-minded desire to surpass Alexander the Great as history's ultimate conqueror.
Backed by a secret cabal of powerbrokers, the Federation has amassed a harrowing arsenal of biological weapons. Equipped with the hellish power to decimate other nations at will, only one thing keeps Zovastina from setting in motion her death march of domination: a miraculous healing serum, kept secret by an ancient puzzle and buried with the mummified remains of Alexander the Great - in a tomb lost to the ages for more than 1,500 years.

Together, Cotton and Cassiopeia must outrun and outthink the forces allied against them. Their perilous quest will take them to the shores of Denmark, deep into the venerated monuments of Venice, and finally high inside the desolate Pamir mountains of Central Asia to unravel a riddle whose solution could destroy or save millions of people - depending on who finds the lost tomb first.

My rating: 2 stars

1216. Jack With a Twist (Brenda Janowitz)

2010-01-17T18:12:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

Planning a wedding can be a trying experience.

A little prewedding anxiety is normal for every bride, and Manhattan attorney Brooke Miller isn't worried. She's got the loving support of the world's greatest guy, so planning her nuptials should be a piece of cake.

But that was yesterday.

Today, Brooke's landed her fi rst big case and has just discovered that the opposing attorney is none other than her fi ancé, Jack. But that's okay. These two professionals aren't going to let a little courtroom sparring get their legal briefs in a bunch.. Right? Wrong! Now Jack's pulling every dirty trick in the law books, and Brooke's starting to suspect that maybe he isn't the man she thought he was. Warring with her fi ancé at work and at home, Brooke realizes that she'll have to choose between the case of her life, or actually having a life.

My rating: 4 stars

1215. Private Places (Anthology)

2010-01-17T18:03:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
USA Today bestselling author Robin Schone shares a tale of a man and a woman in a notorious club, who learn how very dangerous desires of the flesh can be. Claudia Dain heats up this collection with the story of two voyeuristic young courtesans who might just take part in a very public seduction at the theatre. Allyson James has a card-playing, cunning widower and a desperate young widow learn that passion is the ultimate wild card. And finally, Shiloh Walker introduces a short story of a woman saved by a shapeshifter. Now, if only she could think of a way to repay him...

My rating: 2 stars

1214. Lost in Love (Michelle Reid)

2010-01-17T16:54:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Four years ago, Guy Frabosa had hurt Marnie so deeply that she vowed never to set eyes on him again and had divorced him in a blaze of pain and anger. He fought her, but she'd had a trump card and had been desperate enough to use it.

Now Guy held all the cards--Marnie needed his financial help and had little choice but to play by her ex-husband's rules. He demanded her body and soul, but the thought of returning to his side as his wife filled her with a raging hatred---made all the more consuming by her utterly wanton desire for his lovemaking.

My rating: 3 stars

1213. Master of Torment (Karin Tabke)

2010-01-17T16:49:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

Wulfson of Trevelyn, trusted knight of William the Conqueror, has never met a man he could not master. But in the tempestuous young widow Tarian of Trent, known as the Lady Warrior, Wulf may finally have met his match. Ordered by the king to curb an armed dispute between Tarian and her dead husband's uncle, Wulf captures the lady but falls captive himself to her seductive dark beauty.

To Lady Tarian's dismay, however, neither her fighting spirit nor her wiles are sufficient to bend Wulfson to her will. She vows she will not be the loser in their passionate battle, but her own desire for this overpowering stranger threatens her body, her life, and her very heart.

My rating: 2 stars

1212. Texas Destiny (Lorraine Heath)

2010-01-17T16:46:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Amelia Carson is a mail-order bride. She has come to Texas to marry Dallas, the ranch owner she has corresponded with for a year. But a broken leg (and fate) requires Dallas to send his brother, Houston, to meet Amelia in his place. Physically and emotionally scarred by the war, Houston doesn't believe he will ever find love. When he falls in love with his brother's betrothed, he never expects her to return his feelings. Together they discover that without honor, love is meaningless.

My rating: 3 stars

1211. Hidden Fires (Sandra Brown)

2010-01-17T16:42:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
When innocent, raven-haired Lauren Holbrook left her home for a promising life in Texas she found heartbreak, not happiness, forced into a loveless marriage of convenience to playboy-rancher, Jared Lockett. Now a victim of Jared's scheming mother whose hunger for power and wealth defied the boundaries of human greed, Lauren was unjustly accused of betrayal... threatened by an ambitious investor's savage lust ... and rejected in love by her rebellious husband. But nevertheless Lauren's love for Jared grew. She bravely challenged the hate that surrounded Jared's heart, and offered instead a rapturous passion--a shimmering new dream they could share--if only they could conquer the treachery that ruled their lives.

My rating: 3 stars

1210. Just Imagine (Susan Elizabeth Phillips)

2010-01-14T17:03:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

In the ashes of war, they were bitter enemies, bound by fate, fortune, and sweet desire. Spirited, schooled to trust no one, Kit Weston came to New York with a pistol in her pocket and murder in her heart, sworn to kill her mysterious guardian, her Yankee stepbrother and reclaim the South Carolina plantation that was her heritage, her home. But Baron Cain inspired far more than vengeful fury. Darkly handsome, undaunted by danger, he awakened in the wild girl a worman's ardor. Kit would shed her boy's disguise to dazzle society with her bold beauty.she would tantalize Baron even as she schemed to destroy him. Torn between burning desire and an impassioned dream of the South reborn, she would be forced to choose: to fulfill love's longing or risk everything.

My rating: 3 stars

1209. Simply Love (Catherine Anderson)

2010-01-14T16:58:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

Luke Taggart, owner of a mining empire, has seen and done it all. But he feels a restlessness--for what, he doesn't know. Until he meets a woman as fresh and pure as a spring morning--and vows to possess her at any cost. Lovely Cassandra Zarek has a charming naivete that seems to blind her to Luke's seductive schemes and a belief in the ability of love to transform this rogue into the man of her dreams.

My rating: 3 stars

1208. The Greek's Forced Bride (Michelle Reid)

2010-01-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

Greek billionaire Leo Christakis is convinced the drab, shapeless suits worn by Natasha are simply a cover for the gold-digging harlot who lies beneath.

Mistakenly thinking Natasha's been stealing from his company, Leo commands her to be at his beck and call - in and out of the bedroom. Natasha is thrown into his world of unimaginable luxury. Then Leo discovers she's innocent - in every sense! Now she has no choice - she must become the Christakis bride!

My rating: 4 stars

1207. No Way to Begin (Michelle Reid)

2010-01-14T16:45:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Taking over the business was just the first step

Anton Lakitos wanted Nina Lovell, too. But she despised him.

She was convinced that it was the arrogant Greek property developer who'd ruined her father's health because of his desire to add Lovell's to his list of conquests.

When she discovered he was hell-bent on buying her, too, Nina faced the kind of dilemma every loyal daughter dreaded--should she watch Anton ruthlessly break her father's heart, or should she attempt to keep the company in the family. . . by marrying the man she hated?

My rating: 3 stars

1206. The Tycoon's Bride (Michelle Reid)

2010-01-14T16:43:00.001-08:00

Synopsis:

Claire was trying to look after her baby sister alone. She was on the verge of taking drastic action when she met Andreas Markopoulou, a sexy Greek tycoon. Andreas offered to marry Claire and adopt Melanie. His adored grandmother longed to hold her great grandchild before she died. It seemed Andreas would go to any lengths to grant his grandmother's wish, even if that meant deceiving everybody -- including his new bride.

My rating: 4 stars

1205. Another Dawn (Sandra Brown)

2010-01-14T16:40:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Betrayal had ruined Banner Coleman's wedding day, and on her wedding night she found herself a jilted bride. Now the seeds of greed and desire are harvesting a scandal - and Banner's affair with an old family friend could shatter both a friendship and a family.

My rating: 3 stars

1204. A Tall Dark Cowboy (Mackenzie McKade)

2010-01-14T16:38:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

Just looking for a good time...

Waiting tables in a bar full of no-good cowboys isn't Lacy Mason's idea of fun. But between her daughter's illness, endless doctor bills, and her college tuition, she needs the money. What she could really use is a night of no-holds-barred passion and no-strings-attached sex. Too bad she has sworn off cowboys for life...

A guy walks into a bar...

Full-time executive and retired cowboy Wyatt Anderson is drawn to Lacy from the moment he sees her. But she's an enigma. Daring and assured one moment and hesitant the next, it's as if something haunts her. Only willing to give him one night, Lacy clings tightly to her secrets. Unfortunately for her, what Wyatt wants, Wyatt gets. And he definitely wants...

My rating: 2 stars

1203. Deadly Promise (Brenda Joyce)

2010-01-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
It is March of 1902, and Francesca Cahill-Fifth Avenue heiress, undaunted political activist and intrepid amateur sleuth-has just learned of a grave new danger haunting the streets of New York. A beautiful teenage girl named Emily O'Hare is missing and Francesca fears that the girl has been abducted. Only one person can help her learn the child's fate-but Police Commissioner Rick Bragg may not want to get involved because Francesca has just stunned Rick by accepting a proposal of marriage...from none other than his own rival.

Francesca still questions her decision to marry the powerful and notorious Calder Hart. But Rick Bragg is wed to another...and his dazzling wife has just returned after four years abroad to reclaim their marriage. Francesca remains torn between the two very different men-but she desperately tries to set aside the affairs of her heart when she discovers that Emily isn't the first girl to vanish in recent weeks. And when Francesca discovers a trail of deception and lies, when someone very close to her investigation is murdered, Francesca realizes that the evil force behind the girls' abductions may try to find a way to silence her too-if she dares to uncover the truth...

My rating: 3 stars

1202. Deadly Kisses (Brenda Joyce)

2010-01-14T16:30:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Called to the home of her fiancé Calder Hart's former mistress late one night, amateur sleuth Francesca Cahill's curiosity is piqued. But upon arrival, she is shocked to find Daisy Jones's bloodied body -- and even more devastated when the evidence points to one suspect: Calder.

Francesca cannot -- will not -- believe that Calder is capable of such an act. Still, she is unable to shake her instinctive sense that Calder is lying about something. The police are far less inclined to believe his innocence, and Calder is arrested for Daisy's murder. But Francesca's heart is not easily swayed . . . until a life-altering secret is exposed that could destroy their future together.

My rating: 3 stars

1201. Deadly Desire (Brenda Joyce)

2010-01-14T16:25:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
New York City's Police Commissioner Rick Bragg has been called upon to investigate a shocking crime. Reluctant to pull Francesca into a case that could be very dangerous, Rick also knows the beautiful and brilliant heiress has a natural ability for sleuthing that could aid him-even if it means working side by side with a woman who tempts him like no other. And so Francesca and Rick begin a harrowing journey through the squalid underworld of the city that plunges them deeper and deeper into a peril neither could have imagined-and a desire that only continues to grow...

My rating: 3 stars

1200. Deadly Illusions (Brenda Joyce)

2010-01-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Despite the misgivings of her fiancee, Calder Hart, Francesca cannot turn away from a threat that is terrorizing the tenement neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. A madman has attacked three women, but while the first two victims survived, the third is dead, raising the stakes. All the victims are impoverished but beautiful Irishwomen--and Francesca fears that Maggie Kennedy and Gwen O'Neil, two friends who live nearby, could be next.

Soon she is working with her former love, police commisioner Rick Bragg--Calder's half brother and worst rival. But even as Calder's jealous passions leave his relationship with Francesca teetering on the brink, Francesca is frantically on the killer's trail, certain The Slasher will strike again--afraid she will be too late. . .

My rating: 3 stars

1199. Wicked (Susan Johnson)

2010-01-09T17:42:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Serena Blythe's plan to escape a life of servitude had gone terribly awry. So she took the only course left to her. She sneaked aboard a sleek yacht about to set sail-and found herself face-to-face with a dangerous, sensual stranger. Beau St. Jules, the Earl of Rochefort, had long surpassed his father's notoriety as a libertine. Less well known was his role as intelligence-gatherer for England. Yet even on a mission to seek vital war information, he couldn't resist practicing his well-polished seduction on the beautiful, disarmingly innocent stowaway. And in the weeks to come, with battles breaking out on the continent and Serena's life in peril, St. Jules would risk everything to rescue the one woman who'd finally captured his heart.

My rating: 2 stars

1198. Some Like It Wicked (Teresa Medeiros)

2010-01-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Some like it dangerous . . .

Highland beauty Catriona Kincaid cares nothing for propriety - or even her own safety - when she storms the grounds of Newgate Prison. Determined to return to Scotland and restore her clan's honor, she seeks the help of Sir Simon Wescott, a disgraced nobleman and notorious rogue. She is prepared to offer him both wealth and freedom, but she never dreams the wicked rake will be bold enough to demand a far more sensual prize.

Some like it seductive . . .

Simon is shocked to discover the tomboy he met long ago has blossomed into a headstrong temptress. Although he's sworn off his dreams of becoming a hero, he can't resist playing knight errant to Catriona's damsel in distress. Both adventure and peril await them at her Highland home, where they will risk their lives to vanquish her enemies . . . and risk their hearts to discover a passion beyond their wildest dreams.

My rating: 3 stars

1197. Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded (Kate Hardy)

2010-01-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
From best friends...
Isobel's friend Alex Ricahrdson has the ultimate playboy lifestyle, flitting from one long-legged woman to the next - why would he want short, curvaceous Bel?

To red-hot lovers!
Now, though, Alex needs a convenient wife - and Bel is his first-choice bride! Shocked at his proposal, Bel has doubts about his crazy plan. Then Alex gives her a taste of just how hot they can be together, leaving Bel begging him to finish what he started - on their wedding night!

My rating: 2 stars

1196. Tempted All Night (Liz Carlyle)

2010-01-09T17:32:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Lady Phaedra Northampton and Lady Zoe Armstrong are best friends who couldn't be more different from each other. Phaedra is a good girl, always doing what she's told and being the perfect lady, while Zoe is the bad girl, continually getting into trouble and acting like a hoyden. Even though they are polar opposites, they are also best friends. The pair decides to help each other with their "faults" and stop behaving so predictably. When Phaedra gets involved in solving a mystery with the irresistible rake Tristan Talbot, Lord Avoncliff, sparks fly...and for the first time she behaves completely opposite of the perfect lady she has always been.

My rating: 3 stars

1195. Married to the Viscount (Sabrina Jeffries)

2010-01-09T17:29:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Abigail Mercer was breathless with anticipation at being reunited with Spencer Law, whom she met once and later married by proxy. But now the dashing Viscount Ravenswood denies all knowledge of their union! Far too many witnesses have made it impossible for the secretive Spencer to reject his "bride" without causing a scandal. So he has proposed a marriage in-name-only until they can locate his mysteriously absent younger brother - who is responsible for everything! - and untangle this messy affair.

Abigail is incensed, irate...and irresistibly attracted to this handsome, infuriating man who hides his smoldering passion behind a proper exterior. So the lady will agree to his terms on one condition: Spencer must seal their bargain with a kiss. But he finds that one deep, lingering, unforgettable kiss isn't nearly enough. And keeping his hands off his pretty wife is going to be much harder than he thought...

My rating: 4 stars

1194. Viscount Vagabond (Loretta Chase)

2010-01-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Catherine Pelliston simply would not abide by her father's wishes and marry the slovenly Lord Browdie. But her escape through the streets of London only seemed to lead her from bad to worse. First, she was robbed. And then, her supposed "rescue" by a kindly old woman stranded Catherine in a bordello -- where the handsome Viscount Rand was intent on sampling her wares! A dire predicament indeed-especially when the dashing aristocrat decided to assume full responsibility for the ravishing runaway by taking her, quite against her will, into his home. But little did Catherine know that her struggle to preserve her virtue had inflamed the debauched gadabout's heart ... and might well net her a husband worth desiring!

My rating: 2 stars

1193. The Fortune Hunter (Jasmine Haynes)

2010-01-09T17:22:00.001-08:00

Synopsis:
It appears that insecure heiress Faith Castle's dreams of having a baby are close to coming true. She's finally been proposed to! But Connor Kingston happens to be as honest as he is handsome, making plain that his offer is purely a career move. A marriage of convenience is far from romantic, but Faith agrees-after all, she's getting what she wants as well. She has only one caveat: she requires his absolute fidelity. But her randy fiance wants to be free to come and go. What transpires is the sexiest and most unpredictable love story of the season.

My rating: 3 stars

1192. Simply Wicked (Kate Pearce)

2010-01-09T17:07:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
Anthony Sokorvsky's only rule in life is not to have any, especially when pleasures of the flesh are involved. But his dark sexual pursuits have led him down a treacherous path that may cost him his fortune if he doesn't end his recklessness and wed. His salvation comes in the form of Marguerite Lockwood. Just one day in Marguerite's presence leaves Anthony lusting after her and fantasizing about all the ways he can bring her to new heights of delirious, scorching ecstasy...When Anthony Sokorvsky offers to escort Marguerite around London, she's not sure what to make of the intriguing - yet very sensual - man. And when he wastes no time in seducing her, she finds herself thoroughly aroused. No man before has managed to ignite the wild desire she now feels deep within her. Surrendering completely to Anthony's expert caresses, Marguerite is ready to finally have her erotic needs met - and to fulfil her lover's most wicked longings.

My rating: 3 stars

1191. Mistress (Leda Swann)

2010-01-09T17:05:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:
The very thought of an innocent young woman—a teacher at a fusty finishing school—modeling for a series of titillating photographs to be sold at London's bookstalls is scandalous. But orphaned Emily Clemens's destitute circumstances have left her little choice. It is all part of her plan to capture the attention of some well-heeled roué who will then make her his pampered mistress. So the untouched beauty sheds her outer garments—and her inhibitions—to strike provocative poses before the lens of handsome photographer Eric Twyford.

But each seductive attitude she assumes is stoking a fire within that Emily never knew existed—and the heat is spurring her on to ever-greater heights of sensuous abandon. Still, the devilishly desirable Eric, a consummate professional, remains unmoved by her erotic display. If Emily cannot arouse a man in the flesh, what hope does she have as a black-and-white postcard?

She has already gone far beyond the boundaries of propriety. Now Emily's brazenly determined to go even farther—to seduce Eric, letting him take her to intoxicating places she has never been. But once she has reached ecstasy, will she ever be able to leave?

My rating: 4 stars