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ARC REVIEW – Buon Natale, My Wicked Rogue: A Steamy Regency Romance, by Natalie Alleyn

#steamy #regency #romance

Blurb

Her sinfully seductive rogue is not what he seems.

Angela Berry, an Italian-born widow of a wealthy American industrialist, finds the English winter unbearably cold to face alone. In a chance encounter, she meets a dowager countess who extends a heartwarming invitation to an enticingly naughty Christmas house party.

“I know a deliciously sensual man who can keep you warm on these long nights. You will know him immediately by his uniquely gorgeous green eyes.”

Serving the best interests of one’s country can be challenging. Being the beautiful American’s lover should be an effortless pleasure. But if Evan, the Earl of Ashington, is not careful, he could fall for the warm, giving, incredibly sensual woman in his arms over the holiday season. And if that happened, he might forget that he was sent to spy on this foreign industrialist’s widow.

Angela finds what she expects: a charming, experienced lover. She is surprised that he is also a duke’s heir. But he charms her and takes her to heights of passion she had never allowed herself to dream could exist. A joyous holiday fling ensues. Yet, occasionally, she catches glimpses of a self-disciplined, more empathetic man beneath his glib persona. A man she could easily love. But she knows a duke’s heir would never marry the widow of an American commoner, especially when he shows no sign that he views her as anything but a short-term bedmate.

Unwilling to risk further emotional entanglement, Angela plans a return to America. However, when her past catches up to her, she discovers that her carefree lover has transformed into a powerful protector. Yet, as time passes, she begins to question if he is truly who he appears to be. Alone in a foreign land, she can only rely on the intuition of her heart to navigate the uncertain days ahead.

Will a growing bond of trust and hope light their way to a shared life of love? Or will the force of the inexorable past destroy their trust and any chance at happiness?

Hot & Steamy, Emotional Regency Romance -Christmas Romance – Novella

This story can be read as a standalone Historical Romance with an HEA. But if you love reading about single widows looking to mingle with some of Regency England’s most desirable scoundrels, rakes, and rogues, please check out the other Wicked Widows’ League stories!

My Review – 5 stars *****

Sweet and Steamy Seasonal read!

Buon Natale, My Wicked Rogue, is a satisfying, sweet and steamy Regency novella. It features Angela, a young widow who is looking to escape the memories of a less than satisfying marriage and Evan, an Earl who offers her desire and passion such as she has not experienced before. The read takes place in the run up to and during the Christmas period and features lavish descriptions of the festivities and season, which added to my reading enjoyment.

Far from a profligate aristocrat Angela discovers Evan has hidden depths and they soon form an ever- deepening emotional attachment, with plenty of passion. Yet what will happen when secrets are revealed, and she discovers that their initial meeting was not by chance but by design? Can she forgive him? And what will happen when her own past catches up with her?

It’s a truly romantic read – Angela, despite her past hurts, is a strong character and is an excellent match for Evan who up until now has experienced passion in his relations with the opposite sex but not the all consuming love he has now found. I loved how protective Evan soon becomes of Angela and how they navigated the ups and downs of their relationship.

Recommended for readers of steamy reads, especially lovers of historical romance with a Christmas theme.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of the book was given to me by the author and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

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BOOK TOUR & REVIEW – Fanning Fireflies: A romantic historical paranormal mystery: 3 (The Limerent Series), by L S Delorme

#paranormal #paranormalromance #historicalromance

Book Blurb

There is something rotting in Harrisville.

It’s 1944 and Veronica works so she can afford to eat. Maybe one day she will save enough to own the home her family is living in, but for now, she doesn’t have time for fanciful thoughts, or much else. She doesn’t have time for the fire whispering to her, the ghosts trying to talk to her and the son of her boss, who can’t stop staring at her. She definitely doesn’t have time to think about Lazlo, the handsome black soldier that she processed at the draft office, but she can’t seem to stop herself. As her ability to ignore Lazlo evaporates, so does her self-imposed ignorance about her hometown. There is, and always has been, something rotten in Harrisville. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. After all, Veronica works in the cigarette factory, where corpses hide in the tobacco with the roaches.

My Review

What a beautiful and heartfelt read! – 5 stars

Fanning Fireflies, set in a small town in America towards the latter part of the second world war, is a beautiful and heartfelt read. It has a memorable heroine in Veronica, a young woman who works all hours to help support her mother and brother. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but the themes it dealt with and the emotions it evoked will certainly stay in my mind for a long time. The author effortlessly weaves themes of family, good versus evil and the enduring power of love. There are a number of unexpected twists and turns and the read, which contains a number of well drawn characters, held my attention throughout.

I was drawn to Veronica, a strong, honest, and fearless individual, who is devoted to her family, particularly her brother. Her encounter with Lazlo, a black soldier with whom she forges a strong mutual connection, intrigued me no end. The shocking events which follow, pit her against others who do not share her values, putting her and those she cares about in danger and I loved how she grows ever stronger and how despite the dangers she stays true to her beliefs.

I really enjoyed how the paranormal elements of the story became ever more pronounced as the plot progressed, the evil within the town growing exponentially as the various threads come together. I found that the read reflects this time period really well in terms of its language, content, and characters. It acknowledges the deep rooted prejudices that existed against women, the poverty stricken and particularly against people of colour, and as I read I could still see parallels with society today.

The book is part of the author’s Limerent series, but works perfectly well as a standalone and I will be checking out other books in the series.

Recommended to readers who enjoy strong heroines, tales of good versus evil and reads which combine elements of thriller, mystery and romance with the paranormal.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, this book was given to me by the author and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

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ARC REVIEW – Not That Kind of Witch, A Brand-new M/F Steamy Contemporary Romance by Lucy Felthouse

#contemporaryromance #romance #steamyromance

The latest release from Lucy Felthouse, Not That Kind of Witch is a M/F steamy contemporary romance filled with fun and steam, which also tackles some serious topics. So if you’re looking for a hefty dollop of realism in your romance, then check this one out!

Blurb

Can Willow let go of her fears and begin living her life again, or will her issues get the better of her?

Willow Green is having a hard time of it. Losing her job at the beginning of the pandemic and her elderly grandmother’s ‘clinically vulnerable’ status have resulted in her becoming housebound. While her entrepreneurial, hard-working spirit and the knowledge passed down through generations of green witches in her family mean she has solved her employment problem, her fear of going out, of allowing the dreaded virus into the house she shares with her grandmother, is far from resolved. In fact, it seems worse than ever.

That is, until Joe Lane comes along. The handsome care worker turned delivery driver does Willow a favour, gaining her attention and reluctant admiration. He’s got plenty of baggage of his own, but he also has the skills and temperament to help her with her problem—and he really seems to care.

The question is, will she let him get close enough to try?

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My Review

Steamy and Heartfelt – 5 stars *****

This contemporary romance is both steamy and heartfelt. It takes place during what is now the ‘new normal’ for many households who are doing what they can to protect their clinically vulnerable loved ones from the Covid pandemic. Willow is devoted to her grandmother and is lucky enough to be able to work from home, drawing on her innate abilities inherent within her bloodline. Although safe from the virus within their home, their world and life experiences have shrunk considerably.

I loved how Willow’s meeting with Joe, a delivery driver, acts as a catalyst, offering up the possibility of changing their lives and his own for the better. The journey the couple embark on, egged on by Willow’s grandmother and the adorable cat Buttons, is a delightfully uplifting read; written sensitively, with humour and love and culminating in some sexy scenes. Yet can Willow overcome her fears of the outside world and learn to live again? And will Joe, a man with his own baggage, accept Willow and her grandmother’s special abilities?

I enjoyed Willow’s strength as she strives to overcome her fears and connect with Joe whilst continuing to protect her grandmother. Joe and Willow are perfect for each other, and I enjoyed how their relationship slowly blooms from friendship to something more.

All in all an uplifting, steamy and romantic read which references the impact of the pandemic on our lives and the importance of family, friendship and love.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book was given to me by the author and I am voluntarily posting an honest review.

Author Bio

Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of), Eyes Wide Open (winner of the Love Romances Café’s Best Ménage Book 2015 award), The Persecution of the Wolves, Hiding in Plain Sight, Curve Appeal, and The Heiress’s Harem and The Dreadnoughts series. Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 175 publications to her name. Find out more about her and her writing at http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/linktree

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*ARC REVIEW – Her Outcast Scot (The Highland Warrior Chronicles Book 5), by Christina Phillips

#historicalromance #romance #scotland

Book Blurb

A warrior haunted by his cursed past. A healer princess forbidden to love by her goddess. A political marriage that could shatter everything they cherish…

Pledged to protect dark secrets that could destroy his family’s honor, Ross MacIntosh cannot afford to lose his heart. Sent by his king into Pictland, he knows his duty. To report back on any signs of treachery. He might not trust his king but as a warrior his fealty is absolute, and his path is clear. But when he’s attacked and left for dead, he awakes to discover his healer is the intriguing Pictish princess, Orabel, and his carefully planned future unravels.

After enduring an arranged marriage to a brutal Northumbrian warlord, Orabel wants nothing more to do with politics. Now, she will follow her true destiny and pledge her life to her beloved goddess. But when fate thrusts Scots warrior Ross MacIntosh into her life, her conviction falters. How can she feel anything but contempt for a man whose king is responsible for the death of her royal father?

Compelled to wed to prevent bloodshed blighting their land, trust is a fragile illusion. But with a vengeful goddess demanding restitution, Ross will need more than Orabel’s healing skills to mend the rift that threatens to tear her from his arms forever.

My Review – 5 stars

Forbidden romance, secrets, political intrigue and magic!

Her Outcast Scot is Christina Phillips’ latest instalment in the Highland Warrior Chronicles, featuring Ross McIntosh, a warrior Scot and Orabel, a Pictish princess and healer. The read is a captivating one, expertly weaving together a tale of forbidden romance, secrets, politics, and the magic of the old religion.

I was intrigued by both romantic leads, both of whom have their own inner demons to contend with. I particularly applauded Orabel’s compassion and inner strength and Ross’ sense of honour and duty. Although neither have any desire to marry, circumstances and politics conspire to bind them together. The arranged marriage trope, especially between individuals from warring factions, is one of my favourite and this book executes it so well. I enjoyed how despite viewing each other as enemies Ross and Orabel were attracted to each other from the off, an attraction which soon develops into many a passionate scene….

Ross has secrets he wishes to protect, secrets which have clearly scarred him deeply. I enjoyed how these secrets and their impact on his relationship with Orabel and others close to him were revealed as the plot progresses.

As for Orabel, having escaped an arranged marriage, she has no desire to tie herself to another man. Instead, she wishes to devote herself to her goddess and to help others through her healing. I loved how she embraces her healing craft and how her skills are augmented by the powers bestowed on her by her goddess Bride. The scenes where Orabel carries out her healing and others where she communes with her goddess are particularly memorable.

As the wife of a Scot, whose people have rejected the old religion, will Orabel be permitted to practise her skills of healing bestowed upon her by Bride? When secrets are revealed and trust is shattered, what future does their relationship have? Not only that but what exactly is the message Bride is impressing upon Orabel? Will she succeed in understanding this and thwarting the teachery that threatens peace and security of those she loves before it is too late?

Although the book can be read as a standalone, to fully immerse yourself in the world and the characters I recommend reading the earlier books in the series, starting with Her Savage Scot (click on the title for my review}.

Recommended for lovers of passionate and compelling historical romance!

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book was given to me by the author and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

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November 4, 2023 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW – Bond Crushed: a vampire romance (The Bonded Vampire Chronicles Book 2), by Christie Clayton

#VampireRomance #ParanormalRomance #Agegap #FatedMates

Book Blurb

When a vampire bonds to a human, the consequences can be catastrophic.

Five-hundred-year-old vampire Marguerite Fontaine is teetering on the brink of mental ruin. The affliction, which plagues older vampires, only has one cure—a mate bond. But when Marguerite finds her mate, human musician Mikey Madeley, he falls short of her exacting social standards. She decides to take an experimental new drug to suppress the feelings triggered by her bond, freeing her from a lifetime of misery with an unsuitable mate.

Devastated and confused by her disappearance, Mikey agrees to help a group of ruthless vampire hunters capture Marguerite. He finds himself torn between wrath and desire for her, his misguided pact with the hunters hanging over him like an axe. When they are reunited, he is no longer able to bury his overwhelming need for her, their bond drawing them to one another despite his fury and her disdain.

Will Marguerite continue to deny her love for Mikey? And can Mikey forgive her for abandoning him before it’s too late to stop the hunters?

My Review

Pride and Prejudice – Vampire style! 5 stars

Bond Crushed, a paranormal age-gap romance, is the second instalment in Christie Clayton’s Bonded Vampire Chronicles. As with the first in the series, Bond Bitten, it illustrates how the path to love between bonded mates is not always an easy one – especially when a vampire seeks to reject their fated mate, a mate whom they have just turned…

I found the book to be a compulsive read, full of passion and emotional turmoil. I particularly enjoyed the push and pull between the couple as the story unfolds. Marguerite, a vampire featured in the previous book, is a strong and complex character; cold and indifferent on the surface but with an inner fragility. Stunned when she realises her fated mate Mikey falls far short of her high expectations, she goes to desperate lengths to reject and sever their fledgling bond, a move which risks devastating consequences. As for Mikey he is torn between desire for his mate and revenge after she deserts him.

I did not immediately warm to Marguerite due to how she behaves towards Mikey and others. However, I was mightily intrigued by her back story and the motivations behind her actions. Her character goes on quite a journey in this book! I enjoyed Mikey’s character growth too, as it became evident that he is far from the seemingly shallow man who is just out for a good time. He has his own demons from the past to contend with and inner depths which make him a worthy match for his reluctant mate.

I was intrigued as to how their story would play out – will Marguerite descend ever further into the mental ruin that afflicts older unmated vampires or can she set aside her pride and accept her mate? Will Mikey forgive her desertion? The stakes become ever higher as the hunters close in on the couple, and I found myself soon rooting for them to work out their differences and find their HEA.

Once again the word building within the novel was well done and I liked how Emily’s and Sebastian, the couple whose romance played out in the previous book made an appearance in this one too. I am looking forward to the next instalment!

Recommended for fans of paranormal romance, especially those who enjoy delving into the world of vampires and fated mates.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book was given to me by the author and I am voluntrarily posting an honest review

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ARC REVIEW – IMMORAL STEPS, IMMORAL SERIES BOOK 1, BY MARISSA FARRAR

#whychooseromance #stepbrotherromance #stepfatherromance

Blurb

I’m only a week short of my eighteenth birthday when I discover my drug-addicted mother dead, a needle in her arm.

It’s only then I learn of the family I’d forgotten—a stepfather and his two adult sons. One is star of the music world, a blind violinist who wows his audience on stage.

The other brother is his protection—a six-four beast who no one dares cross.

I don’t need them.

They don’t want me.

With my head still spinning, I find myself plunged into a world of wealth and fame.

But it’s a brief dalliance.

A private plane is due to take us to a concert hall in Montreal. Except it doesn’t make it.

We find ourselves crashed in the middle of the Canadian wilderness with little hope of rescue.

Survival becomes all.

I’m stranded with three men. Though they barely know me, we’re forced to pull together.

We might be family, but out here, where no one else can judge us, they become so much more.

*Immoral Steps is a whychoose stepbrother/stepfather romance with darker themes*

My Review – 5 stars

Intensely sexy ‘forbidden’ romance

Immoral Steps, the first instalment in Marissa Farrar’s new series is an intensely sexy and forbidden why choose romance, involving the heroine Laney’s two stepbrothers and also her stepfather…. It also has a hint of suspense which the author introduces in this book, which I expect she will develop more fully in subsequent instalments.

After the tragic death of her addict of a mother, the seventeen-year-old Laney finds herself living with her stepfather Reed and his sons; the world-renowned blind violinist Darius, and his brooding older brother Cade… Laney only has fleeting memories of Reed, the man who married her mother when Laney was a toddler and subsequently left them 14 years ago. Reed and his sons are a tight-knit trio, and although Reed is keen to step up and do his duty in looking after the child of his deceased wife, initially she is not met with open arms by her stepbrothers…

Before all concerned can come to terms with the abrupt change in circumstances and family dynamics, the plane that was carrying them crashes and survival is the new imperative.

I loved the many layers to this book: the rags to riches element; Laney’s anger at being abandoned by Reed; his guilt at leaving her with her addict of a mother and above all his resistance to the ‘forbidden’ attraction that simmers between them. It is one sexy read! I also liked the survival element of them being thrust into the wilderness and having to work together to survive. Emotions and passions run high, and all three men (each very different) develop feelings for Laney…

Cade is a ladies’ man with a hard edge and something to hide. Darius is more of an introvert and even though he is blind he is perceptive and can sense what others fail to see. Responsibility for his family weighs heavy on Reed as he struggles with his feelings and seeks to ensure their survival.

I was rooting for Laney from the off – she has had it hard, having to survive on her own for so long due to her mother’s addictions. She is as unprepared as the others to dealing with the plane crash and being stranded in the wilderness and now she has three very attractive and virile men to deal with. So what if a relationship between her and them would be regarded as ;forbidden’ in polite society? In the wilderness instinct takes over and it is a different matter, and they may not even survive…

A great first book in series, which ends on a cliffhanger. I cannot wait to see what the next instalment has in store for Laney and her men.

I received a copy of the book from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a fair and honest review.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

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REVIEW – Absolution, Anise Storm and Taylor L Ray

#paranormalromance #revenge #enemiestolovers #thriller #erotic #darkromance

Blurb

Dominic Price believed he had a future with Juliana Rutherford until one dark night, she goes missing, and her affluential father has him arrested for her disappearance. After spending nearly two years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, he is acquitted and has one goal in mind – Revenge.

Whitney Greene is content with her life until a voice invades her thoughts. It is a woman, and she needs help that only Whitney can provide. Her world now off its axis, Whitney is about to be tested when sent to help the one man with the power to destroy them both.

Dominic is powerful, wealthy, and so close to exacting the vengeance he sought when a ghost from his past emerges, only she’s claiming that she isn’t the one who’d set him up for a fall before. Whitney tries convincing Dominic that she isn’t Juliana, but he isn’t fooled. The timing is too convenient and the taste of betrayal still too bitter.

Deciding to use her as an additional pawn in his deadly game, what ensues is a series of events causing each of them to question themselves, question each other, and reveals a force more sinister than either could’ve ever imagined. When the dust settles, will absolution finally be found?

My Review

Suspenseful, twisty and passionate! 5 stars

Buckle up for addictive dark romance which combines so many of the genres and tropes I love: suspense; paranormal; enemies to lovers; mistaken identity and revenge. The central romance is between Whitney and Dominic, but there is also the ghost of Juliana, Dominic’s ex, the daughter of a powerful man, which adds a mysterious element to the book. As a young man Dominic was falsely accused of her murder by her father. He spent a long time in prison before a jury found him innocent and is committed to making his accuser pay.

Businesswoman Whitney, who has no connection with Dominic, discovers she has a gift which enables those who have passed to communicate with her. Juliana’s spirit contacts her to help her seek closure for Dominic on what he went through. It took me a few pages to accustom myself to the inner dialogue between Witney and Juliana, in what is otherwise a contemporary style read, but once I did, I found it added an entertaining element to the book.

Dominic, now a rich and influential man, lives to enact revenge on Juliana’s father who was so keen to pin the murder of his daughter on him. When he encounters Whitney, whom he mistakes for Juliana (she turns out to be her doppelganger), he is furious, thinking she not only tricked him in the past, by faking her death, but is out to trick him again. He seeks to punish her and use her in seeking revenge.

I found the book to be an entertaining and emotional read on a number of levels: Whilst Dominic and Juliana cared for each other in the past, Whitney is her own person and the attraction between Dominic and herself results in some scorching and at times highly erotic and emotional scenes. Dominic goes all out to seek the truth as Whitney struggles to comes to grips with her gift and tries to convince one very angry man that she is not his deceased lover and had no knowledge of the past events that blighted his life. The book has plenty of twists which I did not see coming and has some dark elements which may be triggering for some.

I loved the read and the many questions it poses, not least in relation to Whitney’s gift, and why she resembles Juliana so much given she has no connection to her. Will Dominic believe her and if he does how will his enemies react when they see the woman who is supposed to be dead back on scene and in Dominic’s orbit? Who are these powerful enemies, and will Dominic and Whitney survive? Will the couple find their HEA and will Juliana finally find peace and be content to let them forge their own future…

Highly recommended to readers of romantic suspense/thrillers who love enemies to lovers trope with paranormal elements.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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