This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

Summary

Lord Leo Byron, is bored lately with society and needs something or...someone to liven up his life. And then he meets Lady Thalia Lennox a woman that refuses his interests at every turn. But her refusal to give him the time of day only intrigues him even more and loves a good chase of his "prey". Thalia has had enough of being embarrassed and mocked and ridiculed and the last thing she wants to do is give another man a reason to humiliate her. Thalia married a man she didn't truly care for but did so out of duty. But her husband treated her awfully through their marriage and trapped her in a situation where she now bears the brunt of being a divorced wife. Just about everyone she ever knew and loved turned their backs on her except for a couple of friends. She doesn't trust Leo further than she throw him. She realizes there may be more Leo than she first assumed. But her ex-husband made sure she could never find the happiness she and Leo deserves.

The Hero

Leo Bryon, is part of a big family and is also a "twin". Leo hides behind th facade of being charming and easy going and full of laughter to hide his true intelligence. With all of his siblings highly gifted in the brain department, Leo wanted to be able to stand out from the 'crowd'. Leo isn't as superficial as he makes himself out to be. He is very close to his twin and they tend to get into all sorts of trouble together. Leo was such a wonderful hero especially once his feelings for Thalia turned deeper than physical desire. I truly couldn't get enough of seeing how devoted he was to Thalia.

We live wild lives until we find the right woman, once we do, we hold fast and never let go

The Heroine

Thalia is forced to live away from the Ton, since the actions of her ex-husband forced her into exile. Thalia did no wrong, but her ex-husband is a very vindictive and bitter man and takes it out on her at every turn. Thalia despite what she has lost, has managed to maintain a manageable living. Thalia has such a strong and resilient spirit. I loved her inner strength and fortitude to keep going strong even when others were always batting her down. I had so much admiration for Thalia, and love the way she grows in this story and the way we see how feisty she can be and seeing how after all she suffers, she still remains stronger than ever.

Plot and Story Line

The Bedding Proposal was fun and entertaining but also a bitter sweet read for me. Reading about situations like what Thalia goes through can be really hard to read at times. It's one of the draw backs of reading Regency Era romances. Mostly because it can be difficult to read about what women had to go through especially when it came to rights and privileges they had which was very few. But what was also simply wonderful about this story too was seeing the strength of women especially back then. They had very few rights, but in this book especially we see how sometimes that only forges stronger and more resilient personalities in women. And Thalia is one of those women that didn't break she was only made stronger. And I honestly loved seeing the slow changes in her as she experiences love for the first time with Leo. Leo, at first, views Thalia as a "prize". But you soon realize that he is drawn to her for other reasons.

I do want to be her friend, he realized. I want to discover everything there is to know about the beautiful, mysterious woman who is Lady Thalia Lennox.

And once he falls for her, he like any rake, falls hard and doesn't give up on her. I love the way he treats her, how much he is willing to do to give her a measure of peace and happiness that he knows she deserves. And the sweet devotion he has to her is so heart melting it might make you cry from it. Their romance is tender and poignant at times especially in the later half of the story. In the first half we see their quick-witted and fun bantering which is highly entertaining. But once they truly are honest with each other, that is where their relationship really soars. I just can't wait for what Warren does next in this series.

The Cover

Its alright, I really like the way his shirt is part way open and the male model is exactly how you would picture Leo to look like too!!

Overall View

The Bedding Proposal has a witty and lighthearted fun beginning that develops into a heart-aching romance that tugs at your emotions and will utterly draw you in! A CAPTIVATING ROMANCE!

"I'll stay for as long as you want me."

"That means forever, you realize? Because I'll always want you. I love you."

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This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

Summary 

Olivia feels uncomfortable around the opposite sex. She was always painfully shy when she was a teenager. But when her mother had cancer, Olivia stayed by her side and took care of her up until her college years. She has never been able to get past her lack of confidence. But then she has a crush on a post grad that she encounters at the library where she works. Olivia goes to her closest friend, Nate Sawyer, a virtual player and bad boy who takes a different woman home almost every night. They make a pact, Nate will show her to be confident and how to flirt and get over her shyness including sex lessons. Olivia isn't a virgin, but has only had sex one time and it was horrible. She has very little sexual experience and it's awkward for her. So best friends turn into lovers. Our hero, Nate lost his childhood sweetheart to cancer when they were only seventeen and only has casual sex and refuses to have any serious relationship with anyone until Olivia. There is powerful chemistry between Nate and Olivia inside and out of the bedroom. Can Nate and Olivia hold onto the love they both have for each other?

Plot and Story Line 

Before Jamaica Lane is the third book in the series and what a story this turned out to be!! I truly adored every moment this story has to offer. I do enjoy the friends to lovers trope and Samantha Young did a great job with this one. This is a story that slowly builds and it definitely will tie you up in emotional turmoil at times. Olivia and Nate have been friends for a year and spend alot of time together.

“What would you prefer? Life in a maximum-security prison or trapped in Jurassic Park?"

"Do I have a social standing in this prison?"

"No. You're just an average Joe."

"Then I guess I have to go with Jurassic Park."

"Why?"

"Well, I'll have constant fresh air, for a start, and also if I'm going to be anyone's prey, I'm going to be the prey of an animal that's acting out of instinct rather than psychopathy... You?"

"If you're in Jurassic Park, I'm in Jurassic Park.”

However their relationship takes a turn, when Olivia reveals some truths while drunk. Truths that no one would really see about it, things that she keeps hidden and hides away. To her group of friends, they see her as self-assured and confident but Olivia has never seen herself that way. She craves something more than just being the "friend" to the guys. She wants to get numbers from strange men she flirts with but it never happens. The story really gets interesting when Olivia and Nate begin "sex lessons". hehe oh boy was that different and when it comes to the bedroom, these two are very explosive to each other. However when spending so much time together in and out of the bedroom, when Nate wants Olivia to meet his parents, their relationship is taken to the next level without either of them realizing it before its too late and love has gotten tangled up in the mix.

Spoiler

Nate makes mistakes with Olivia because he fears losing her like he lost his childhood sweetheart and he will have to fight hard to get her back. This is what I enjoyed the most through the story. I loved his zeal and determination to fight to get back the woman he loves especially when he was the one that hurt her the most.

“You're not ready to hear this yet," he concluded. "But I do need you to know that I'm going to fight for you. I'm not making the mistake of walking away from you again. The only man in you future is me, Liv. The only kids in your future are mine.”

This story was quite spectacular from beginning to end, and I had some fun times with this group of friends and excited for the next book in the series.

Narration 

I truly liked this narrator and she did a brilliant job with this book. She does great with the setting and the Scottish accents were so real and I loved the inflections and how she brought the story to life.

The Cover 

Not my favorite of the series, but I do like the closeup of the pair here.

Overall View 

Before Jamaica Lane is a well written story that takes friends to lovers to a whole new level. Its stimulating, provoking, and dramatic.



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This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

Summary 

Leah Barnett, has come a long way. With her mother having passed away, a man who has always been like a father to her, Louis Montague leaves her all of wealth upon his death if she agrees to marry him on the day of his death. Leah inherited her mother's business, but she is struggling to make do. Monty sees her as the daughter he never had, and wants to make sure she will be taken care of. So Leah reluctantly agrees, knowing how important it is to him. But there is one last request, to make sure the two sons he had but had never really been a father to, and so she travels to Colorado to fulfill Monty's dying wish for his two sons. Along with her, is Cecil, Monty's best friend. But upon arriving, she meets one of his two sons Ryder, who is full of anger and bitterness against his father. He views her as a money grabbed, and doesn't trust her at all. But when she is put in a difficult position, fork up fifteen thousand due to past debts Monty's never fulfilled or go to prison. Ryder makes her an offer she can't refuse, be his lover and he will give the fifteen thousand to the courts to save her from prison. Soon though, Ryder and Leah feel a connection to each other. However lies and past secrets could tear them apart forever.

The Hero 

Our delicious hero is Ryder Damien. Ryder is one of the most powerful men in the state. Despite his rough upbringing, with no father, his mother murdered, and raised by his Cheyenne grandmother, his life hasn't been an easy one. He is used to many despising him for his mixed roots. But despite that, he has made much wealth for himself. Ryder despises his father, whom he blames for his mother's horrific demise. What I grew to really like about Ryder is seeing how much he learns in this book. You see quite a bit of character growth. He tends to make rash judgements and I love seeing him getting turned upside down with Leah. Ryder was quite a fun hero to get to know though. I loved seeing his fortitude, strength against so much especially when he was young. He is a fighter and a sensual lover.

The Heroine 

Leah was a heroine I just wanted more of. She is a character that in the beginning you aren't too sure of. But we see she gets thrown into a horrible position and has to make a difficult choice. But she never gives up on the truth and believing in Ryder. She stands on her own though, and even though she keeps certain things from Ryder, it is very understandable why she does so. Before she travels west, she doesn't have a clue what she is getting herself into. She has always known love with her mother, Monty and Cecil. They are her security blankets. But we see how much she stands on her own when they are taken away from her. She is one tough little cookie, proud and spirited but still has a sweet nature too.

Plot and Story Line 

This story takes us from the streets of Chicago to the small workings of a town in Colorado near Denver. This is a period of growth of the State of Colorado. And wow does this author wow me each time that I happen to pick her up. This time we see more of the damage that many American's dealt to the Native American's of the time. We see this because Ryder is half Cheyenne. Some horrors happen to him when he is a boy that is just heartbreaking but in reality is what makes him into the strong capable man that he has become. I did like seeing how Beverly Jenkins brings in the historical relevance without taking anything from the story. Its more set up as a background for the characters. I did enjoy the interactions between Ryder and Leah in the beginning. Some fun bantering, powerful chemistry becomes built up and some hard lessons are learned between these two that are so spirited and have to learn what it takes to make a relationship work. We also have a shocker in the end where we learn the truth behind all the secrets of the past. And the true villain---turned me upside down. I almost passed out, it was such a blow but what a turn of events that happen here. We also see that Ryder and Leah have to climb through some mountains of mistrust before they get their happy ending. Ryder is the type of man that LEAPS to conclusions, but in the end he always makes up for it in other ways. I loved the way that Leah handles him though. She is firm yet understanding too. I liked that balance and there are some good side characters to fall in love with. What a powerful love story this turned out to be and I am only eager for more from this author.

The Cover 

I really love the purple background, it definitely fits the cover so well!!! And braided hair on the hero----different but so COOL!!

Overall View 

Before The Dawn is a romance that takes the reader on a ride of adventure through the Colorado Rockies----through secrets, misunderstandings, truths that are revealed and above all a happy end to make you sigh in happiness. TRULY A GEM!!!

Short Review
It has been quite some time since I have read Suzanne Enoch, and I bought this book about a year ago, and its been on my shelf collecting dust, so since there have been a few books come into this series, I thought I would try reading the first installment, before I got the others. In the past I have come to love Enoch's writing and her powerful ability of storytelling, but I am sad to say I was disappointed in A Beginner's Guide To Rakes. For some reason I had the hardest time getting into the story, and by the time I was halfway, I wanted to finish it just to find out what happens, but I ended up skimming a bit (which is the worst, just so I could get through it). I think the biggest issue I had was the heroine in this story. I didn't like her at any part of the book. Usually I don't have such a difficult time with heroines, but there was something so hard about her character. I felt like there was so much harshness in the way she treats Oliver. You see how they both make mistakes when they first have their affair before they see each other again in London. I also understand how hurt she could be, but at the same time I wanted to shake some good common sense into her. She frustrated me to no end, and I couldn't help but have some serious issues with her. Oliver I liked from the first page, and I loved how patient he was with her, and never took what she said to him to heart. Even though there was a good solid story outline, and it had the same characteristics that I have come to admire in this author, I never could get fully into the story, and trust me I did try quite a bit. I do plan on trying the second one in the series, hoping it will be much better, because I don't want to give up on this author that I have loved in the past.

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

I have been meaning to read this series for the longest time and I just knew that I needed to try her out and so I decided to grab up Beguiling The Beauty through the Audible Romance Package which is the first book in her Fitshugh Trilogy. I will admit that first off, if I had known about the narrator I might have just grabbed this book from my local library, since I know they have it in print because it took 50% of the book before I starting to grow accustomed to the narrator and eventually like it. I am not sure what it was about her, its not like she had a bad voice or anything, but she just didn't "pull" me into the story like most narrators do for me. So it was a bit lacking in that area and is the main reason why this book doesn't reach a five star rating.

When the Duke of Lexington first sees Venetia Easterbrook, he is fascinated and is almost obsessed with Veneteia. She is the most beautiful woman of the Ton and seems to be in a loving marriage and knows he can never have her but will love her from a distance. The years pass, and Venetia becomes a widow twice over with two husbands and Christian wonders what happened to the mysterious woman who has held his heart for ten years. Venetia hasn't had the easiest ten years of her life, or the luckiest with the men she married. The first being self absorbed and committed suicide while leaving her with a mountain of debts and blaming her for a childless marriage. Then her second husband she had a marriage of friendship and affection but her husband was gay. Now she is a widow and is fascinated with history especially those of animals and naturalist.

While exploring the America's with her family, she goes to a seminar where Christian, the Duke of Lexington and talks about the beauty of a woman and mentions her and her marriage situation and not in the best light. So Venetia, with the encouragement of her sisters comes up with a plan of revenge. That she will make Christian fall in love with her and then she will break his heart. But soon Venetia realizes her plan to hurt Christian in the way that he hurt her.....may just be disastrous for Venetia because she is falling in love with Christian and she dreads the day when he will come to hate her. 

Now onto the story...this book was pretty wonderful to read and boy it had so much depth and detail and Sherry Thomas KNOWS her history and you can tell once you start reading this that MORE regency romances need to be written like this one here. It had such vitality to it that snatches up the readers attention and you can't help but become intrigued by the story and the setting and these characters that tug at your heart strings. I was very impressed with the writing style of Sherry Thomas because we see what how much she really puts into this story and it almost had a feel of a older style romance and I am so grateful that Sherry Thomas writes in this way because too many recent regency style romances just are not enough "pizazz" for me to enjoy anymore but "Beguiling The Beauty" was superbly written and delivers in all the right areas for a historical romance.

I was very intrigued by the set up of this story and even though revenge plots aren't always my favorite trope to read in a romance, it really works for this book. I was pulled into this story where we see the heroine and hero come together in a unqiue scenario and fall in love with each other and find a way to get past the secrets and misunderstandings and find a love worth fighting for. From their sensual meet ups on the voyage back to England, to the letters that Christian writes to Venetia and the way that Venetia practically stalks Christian and meets up with him dancing in his arms or talking artifacts just to be close to him. We see how much they deserve a chance to find some happiness together and their road back to each other is unconventional but worth the fighting and tension to make it happen and boy the ending was so endearingly sweet.

Overall I found Beguiling The Beauty to be a stunning story that delivers a sweeping tale of desire, adventure and the test of true love!! INSPIRED AND DETAILED!