Monday Mini(BkRv) :: 73 - 74

:: 73 ::

BOOK REVIEW ::

Notorious

Nicola Cornick
@NicolaCornick :: website




Romance | Historical | Series Book 4

FIRST LINE :: eARC :: James Devlin was twenty-seven years old and he had everything that he had ever wanted.

Epic romance tends to guard its deepest, darkest secrets closest to the heart rather than wear them on its sleeve, so pardon James Devlin if he fails to acknowledge his perfect-in-every-way fiancée when he spots his dead wife across the ballroom. No, not zombified, but very much alive and currently seducing a gentleman away from Devlin’s sister!

Susanna Burney had learned long ago that love is not invincible and has found a lucratrive job in helping disapproving mamas and papas of the ton to break up an unwanted courtship. This was supposed to have been an easy come-hither-and-dash deal, but Susanna did not count on running into her past in the form of a husband she had discarded long ago.

REVIEW :: Egads – I just realized James Devlin and I are the same age (27) as of a few months ago, and I can hardly say that I have everything I have ever wanted. Back on subject, though, Notorious was a scrumptious feast for this reader who practically inhaled it up her nose! The tension tightly bound like a corset, the love-hate bubbling to a delicious boil, the secrets as decadent as dark chocolate, Nicola Cornick nailed the emotional rollercoaster on the nail and I cried my eyes out. There were some awkward moments in Notorious that felt a little too melodramatic, but these were mostly side-plots that snuck in for a few seconds of pagetime. Otherwise, I loved how Susanna was a match-breaker – I don’t think I’ve run across such a concept before and thought it awfully smart!

DISCLAIMER :: NETGALLEY
RELEASED JULY 2011 BY HARLEQUIN
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES :: WHISPER OF SCANDAL, ONE WICKED SIN, MISTRESS BY MIDNIGHT, DESIRED, FORBIDDEN

:: 74 ::

BOOK REVIEW ::

The Taming Of The Rake

Kasey Michaels
@NONE :: website




Romance | Historical | Series Book 1

FIRST LINE :: eARC :: Oliver Le Beau Blackthorn was young and in love, which made him a candidate for less than intelligent behavior on two counts.

Surely Lady Chelsea is the epitome of sound reasoning as she determines that her odious brother cannot force her in an unwanted marriage with a sleazy reverend if she beats him to the punch first by marrying the last man that her brother would ever approve. Which is why Oliver Blackthorn finds himself unexpectedly on his way to Gretna Green with his enemy’s sister. Beau had dreamed of bringing shame to Chelsea’s brother as payback for a past humiliation, but when his conscience starts bleeding into his heart, will revenge prove to be just as sweet as a possible romance?

REVIEW :: One of my favorite aspects of a historical romance is the witticisms that gets sprinkled within its pages, most notably the very first sentence to kick off the story. The Taming Of The Rake starts off on the right foot as we see how peacock-brained Beau had been – and how horribly Chelsea’s brother scoffed at his lowly rank. However, fast-forward a few years, as everyone races to Gretna Green, I start to lose momentum on the main characters – and instead wished that the steries had started off with the other Blackthorn brothers who seem more colorful than Beau. The romance between Chelsea and Beau seemed a tad too rushed, and while that can work in a story, in this one, I would have liked them to slow it down a notch and had more time to get to know each other.

DISCLAIMER :: NETGALLEY
RELEASED JULY 2011 BY HARLEQUIN
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES :: A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT SIN, MUCH ADO ABOUT ROGUES