Review: Addicted to the Duke by Bronwen Evans @BronwenEvans_NZ

Title: Addicted to the Duke

Author: Bronwen Evans

Series: Imperfect Lords #1

Publication date: June 13th, 2017

Pages: 260

Synopsis (according to Goodreads):

A lovestruck lady charms the duke of her dreams during an expedition on the high seas in this sexy, swashbuckling novel from USA Today bestselling author Bronwen Evans.

Alexander Sylvester Bracken, Duke of Bedford, has a mission: sail to the Mediterranean and track down Lady Hestia Cary's missing father. It is a straightforward task, but for two rather vexing complications. First, the sea holds painful memories; second, for her own safety, Hestia is to accompany him. As Alex battles the demons of his past, he must also resist Hestia's surprisingly skillful attempts at seduction. After all, Alex has sworn to leave her untouched, and he intends to honor that vow--until he can properly ask the Earl's blessing.

Ever since His Grace rescued Hestia from the arms of a Turkish pirate six long years ago, her heart has belonged to Alex. So when he agrees to help find her father, Hestia is thrilled. Although Alex tries to hide it, there's passion in his eyes--and a frisson of desire in the air--whenever they meet. On board ship, miles from home, Alex won't be able to deny her any longer. But with scoundrels lying in wait, she may not live to tell the tale of her conquest.

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Review:

As a reviewer of mostly romance books, you'd think I'd have dabbled a bit more into the Historical Romance genre than I have. For some reason, I had still written the genre off as something the little old ladies of the used bookstore I used to work at would read. Wanting to hold onto my youth I deemed to never cross that barrier from regular romance to Historical lest shrivel up and start discussing how the rain always causes my arthritis to flare up in the worst way. Most foolish thing you've ever heard? Same. Which is why I decided to let go of my preconceived opinion of the genre and dive in with this gem.

Alex is a very troubled man. After two years of captivity with a depraved and evil pirate, it's to be understood. The things that Alex had to do, say, and consume by way of opium, would boggle the mind of the average man. With a thirst for revenge for his captor, the approach of an old Earl to save his young daughter from his clutches was the opportunity Alex had long waited for. He wasn't prepared for the young girl's affections to tempt him so thoroughly. Four years after his rescue of the maiden and now her father is the one in need of rescue. Duty bound he agrees to another rescue mission, however, this one comes with Lady Hestia's attendance at the risk of her demise if left behind. The search for her father takes him back to the place of nightmares. This is what Alex was needing; another chance to kill his tormentor after his rescue mission is complete. But can Alex continue to keep his distance from Hestia or will he finally give into the passion he so desperately desires?

Hestia has loved Alex from the moment he rescued her and even his philandering ways can not dissuade her. However, if she cannot find her father she will be forced to marry and Alex is not offering to be that person. Can she convince Alex that she is worth letting his past go and finding love with her or will his dark mission come between them completely?

As my first true dabble into Historical Romance I am truly impressed. I DEVOURED this book in the course of a night and hated the need for it to come to an end. Hestia's obsessive infatuation with Alex was painful to watch at first because it truly seemed like hero worship. I knew that the two were most likely going to end up together in the end but for a minute there I wondered if this was going to lead to a potential spin where Hestia realizes she only loved Alex for his part in her rescue. But some how the author worked some voodoo magic on the story and twisted it so it was obvious Hestia didn't just worship the ground Alex walked on because he rescued her. She loved him despite all his shortcomings and scars. Alex's determination to not tie Hestia to his sinking anchor was admirable and believable. The way he finally relented was borderline uncomfortable but worked for the story as a whole.

Addicted to the Duke is the best example of the healing properties love can have for a dark and wounded soul.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think I am going to need to read a bit more of the genre. Historical Romance: not just for the elderly. 

Review: Fling Club by Tara Brown

Title: Fling Club

Author: Tara Brown

Series: Serendipity #1

Publication date: August 14th, 2018

Pages: 304

Synopsis (according to Goodreads):

It's revenge--sweet and hot--in the first book of this sexy and wickedly funny series by international bestselling author Tara Brown.

For the young, rich, and beautiful, summertime in the Hamptons means one thing: Fling Club. Only this time, Cherry Kennedy won't be selecting a boy for a fleeting romance. Nope, this season, Cherry is out for revenge. Her target? The Fling Club founder and society darling who slept with Cherry's now-very-ex-boyfriend. And all Cherry needs is the perfect guy for her plan...

Ashley Jardine can't afford to refuse. He scored almost a full ride to MIT. But that almost still costs a lot. And this is so much money for a little game of revenge and a chance--albeit short--to live the high life. Here, rich girls rule the shore, and everyone  has a role to play. Only nothing in the job description warned Ashley that the redhead who's running the scheme would be so crazy. And cute. Or that he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about her.

Now, everything is going according to plan--until an unexpected attraction raises the stakes. It's enough to turn the perfect payback into absolute heartbreak.

Available at:

Review:

After a very prolonged and unwanted break from reading, I am back in the saddle and reaching for a random book that has been cluttering my electronic TBR list for some time. I didn't waste much time on reading the description and went strictly for the fact that it was on a New Adult list that I frequented. I was anxious to dive into the world of damaged college students just trying to find their reason for existing and also maybe a soulmate along the way. 

Cherry was the stereotypical society girl. She attends the most prestigious school, has the wealth of many generations of blue bloods, and spends her summers in the Hamptons as is customary. She knows no other life and has long since accepted her life at face value. All that changes when she walks in on her boyfriend giving it to the Queen Bee of her elitist group. 

From that moment Cherry is out for revenge. She wants to bring down her sovereign leader and show her the suffering she has put any number of her minions through, including Cherry. With the help of her brother and sister, a plot of revenge and retribution is concocted. But she would need a leading man to help in her pursuit.

Enter Ashley, an MIT robotics nerd in need of some serious cash fast. With the offer of little-to-no work involved, a summer in the Hamptons and a huge payday at the end, who would turn it down? But neither Ashley nor Cherry were expecting the sparks between them to fly as thoroughly as they did. But what will become more important to them: money/revenge or love?

First let me start by saying that the book was not the worst I had ever read. The plot seemed a bit underdeveloped and I kind of felt like I was listening to someone tell me a second hand story that they had heard from someone else, who had passed it down from their cousin's mother's hairdresser's son. Something seemed just a bit scattered. Why not simply have Cherry and Ashley flaunt their romance? From the character development of Cait (the evil Queen Bee) this would have bothered her and pushed her to be reckless as much as their complicated ploy. The scheme just seemed a very round-about way of getting what they wanted. Add to that the fact that the scheme they they carefully came up with ended up not even to be utilized. I know... "wait, what?"

It also seems like there are ZERO really likable characters. Cherry was a depressive twit who I was so tired of seeing bash herself. Ashley was a snob who hated rich people with a passion for simply existing (they never outright wronged him). Cherry's brother and sister treated Cherry like an idiot and their equally blunt approach to Cherry was cringy. It was like people beating on a puppy. Hard to watch and gave me serious bully vibes from the PROTAGONISTS.

Normally I at least offer a tidbit of something that I found redeemable about the story but after sitting here for 10 minutes contemplating. I can't really find anything I can truly mention. Fling Club was just a hodge-bodge of 'huh?' with a healthy dose of 'what?' and a sprig of 'just... no.'

Release Blitz with Teasers: The Italian by T.L. Swan @GiveMeBooksBlog

The Italian by T.L. Swan

Publication date: October 28th, 2019

Synopsis (according to Goodreads):

They say there are three things you should do at least once in your life:

Dance like nobody's watching.

Travel the world.

And fall hopelessly in love.

I aimed to do all three. 

I went to Italy to find myself.

But he found me.

It was like a story book, our eyes met across a crowded room.

He asked me if I needed help reading the menu.

We ate, we laughed, we danced, and I fell.

Unfortunately, things didn't go to plan, and we parted ways.

Two years later, our eyes meet across a room again.

Only this time I was on a date with another man.

He went crazy in a jealous fit.

But the man I met then is different now.

He's colder, harder, and officially one of the most powerful men in Italy.

Dare I say it, even more enticing.

But if you dance with the devil, you get burnt.

And the fires in Italy are scalding hot.

Available at:

Free in Kindle Unlimited!!

About the Author:

Lover of her husband, children, words, chocolate and margaritas.

When she is not writing her next novel, you will find her in a cafe drinking coffee with friends.

Writing is her passion.

Books by T.L. Swan

Stanton Adore

Stanton Unconditional

Stanton Completely

Stanton Bliss

Find Me Alastar

Play Along

Dr. Stanton

Dr. Stantons The Epilogue

Marx Girl

Mr. Masters

Gym Junkie

Mr. Spencer

The Stopover

The Italian

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Blog Tour with Excerpt + Trailer + Giveaway: An Alaskan Christmas by Jennifer Snow @JenniferSnow18 @InkSlingerPR

An Alaskan Christmas by Jennifer Snow

Series: Wild River #1

Publication date: September 24th, 2019

Synopsis (according to Goodreads):

In Alaska, it's always a white Christmas--but the sparks flying between two reunited friends could turn it red-hot...

If there's one gift Erika Sheraton does not want for Christmas, it's a vacation. Ordered to take time off, the workaholic surgeon reluctantly trades in her scrubs for a ski suit and heads to Wild River, Alaska. Her friend Cassie owns a tour company that offers adventures to fit every visitor. But nothing compares to the adrenaline rush Erika feels on being reunited with Cassie's brother, Reed Reynolds.

Gone is the buttoned-up girl Reed remembers. His sister's best friend has blossomed into a strong, skilled, confident woman. She's exactly what his search-and-rescue team needs--and everything he didn't know he craved. The gulf between his life in Wild River and her big-city career is wide. But it's no match for a desire powerful enough to melt two stubborn hearts...

Available at:

Excerpt

The dog jumped onto the couch and continued to yelp, pawing Erika's shoulder.

"Can you get it away?" she asked, her eyes closed, hands clutched in front of her.

"You allergic?" he asked, approaching and lifting the dog into his arms.

"No. Terrified."

"Don't worry. Diva doesn't eat city folk." He brought the dog to the kitchen and set her down by her food dish.

Erika glared as she removed her coat and scarf. "It's not like we have a certain smell or anything." She kicked off her boots and leaned back against the cushions.

He shrugged as he reached for a blanket from the back of the couch. "I don't know about that," he said. He bent toward her and paused near her ear to sniff. The action was meant as a jerk move to annoy her, but damn, it backfired. The tantalizing sweet scent of honey on her neck was subtle and provocative. He hadn't been close enough to be tempted by it when she'd been in his arms, but now it clouded his senses.

Luckily, she shoved him away before he could do something moronic like lick her.

He tossed the blanket over her quickly and stood. "Okay, so you're all good?"

She nodded, but her gaze was on his midsection. And her unblinking stare was full of unconcealed attraction. The same way she'd checked out his biceps in the bar.

He glanced down to see that his T-shirt had risen slightly on the right side, exposing his stomach. 

Obviously his abs were to her liking.

"Erika."

"Huh?" Still staring.

"It's been a while, huh?"

She frowned, finally pulling her gaze back to his. "For what?"

"Since you've had sex."

Her mouth gaped.

"I mean, that's why you're staring at my stomach like I'm a piece of chocolate."

"I was not," she said, but her cheeks flushed. "And I'll have you know, I have plenty of sex... all the time. Men beating down my door for it..." she mumbled.

That he wouldn't doubt, except he knew from Cassie that she was a reclusive workaholic and he was willing to bet the only penises she saw were her naked patients.

"And anyway, even if that was the case, you'd be the last guy I'd want to break my dry spell."

Okay, now he was intrigued. Especially since he'd made no motion to fix his shirt and her eyes were glued to his abs again, betraying her words. He crossed his arms, making sure to flex his biceps for her viewing pleasure, as well. She wasn't going to get him, but all of a sudden, he wanted her to want him.

"Because I don't think you'd be any good."

Praise for "An Alaskan Christmas"

"An Alaskan Christmas is heartwarming, romantic, and utterly enjoyable." -- New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster

"Prepare to have your heartstrings tugged! Pure Christmas delight." -- New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde

"Readers will enjoy the mix of sexy love scenes, tense missions, and amiable banter. This entertaining introduction to Wild River will encourage fans of small-town contemporaries to follow the series." -- Publishers Weekly

"An exciting contemporary series debut with a wildly unique Alaskan setting." -- Kirkus

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About the Author:

Jennifer Snow lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and four year old son. She is a member of the RWA, the Alberta Writers Guild, Canadian Authors Association and SheWrites.org. Her first Brookhollow book was a finalist in the Heart of Denver Aspen Gold contest and the Golden Quill Award. More information can be found on her website.

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