Kimberly reviews The Lion, The Leopard And The Wolf by Eliza March

TITLE: The Lion, The Leopard And The Wolf
SERIES #: Enchanted Mountain #1
CHARACTERS: Mac, Adam & Trent
AUTHOR: Eliza March
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/07/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Macalister Cameron’s fantasy comes to life when she’s snowbound in Fantasy Lodge with two incredible men vying for her attention.

“What if your romantic fantasy became possible? Two gorgeous hunks, one dark and surly, the other blond and bright, lived to please and fulfill you? What if you burned with passion and only these two alpha males could satisfy you? What if you found out they had a dangerous secret, and it included you?”

REVIEW:
When I requested this book I figured it was erotica but this is nothing but sex. There is no story behind it. It is like a modern day cheap porn. No story just get to the sex and in this case with it being three of them there is a lot of sex. M/F sex and M/M sex and of course M/M/F sex.

If you are looking for a quick read with not much more than sex this is the one for you.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Kimberly reviews Under A Firefly Moon by Donna Kauffman

TITLE: Under A Firefly Moon
SERIES #: Blue Hollow Falls #4
CHARACTERS: Cheyenne & Wyatt
AUTHOR: Donna Kauffman
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/21/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Blue Hollow Falls may be a small Blue Ridge Mountain town, but it’s big on love–and second chances . . .

When former barrel racer Cheyenne McCafferty left the circuit, she left her past behind too. Now, as part owner of Lavender Blue farm, she’s content rescuing and rehabbing horses, and growing a new business. She’s only got one regret: letting go of Wyatt Reed. When he professed his love, she was too young and foolish to know her heart. After that he disappeared. But when his beloved horse turns up on the auction block, Chey makes a bid and wins more than she bargained for . . .

Chey believed she was ready to face Wyatt again, to explain herself. But seeing the man he’s become, she’s unsure. Gone is the quiet, gentle boy she knew. In his place is a rugged, confident adventurer who’s seen the world. Yet the longer Wyatt sticks around, the clearer it is that the feelings of their youth aren’t so easily dismissed now that they’re adults. In fact, the timing may be just right to make the dreams they’ve shared under a firefly moon come true . . .

REVIEW:
Donna Kauffman is one of my favorite authors and this is just another example as to why. This is a very quick read even though it is about 300 pages.

In this latest Blue Hollow Falls novel Chey and Wyatt meet back up Years ago they were teenage friends until Wyatt admitted his feelings for Chey and the friendship splintered. But now they are adults and life is different.

I have always loved Kauffman and her writing style. I love the way she writes her characters. They are so “real”. You want to be their friend. And being as I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains I can picture every scene she writes of this beautiful area of the country.

Donna Kauffman is always worth the read.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews Vendetta Road by Christine Feehan

TITLE: Vendetta Road
SERIES #: Torpedo Ink #3
CHARACTERS: Ice & Soleil
AUTHOR: Christine Feehan
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan pushes the limits in her next novel in the Torpedo Ink series.

Isaak “Ice” Koval is on a club mission when he sees a woman who stops him dead in his tracks. Soleil is a sweet, sexy, girl-next-door type. She’s an innocent who should be nowhere near the rough-and-ready world of the Torpedo Ink motorcycle club. But Ice knows Soleil belongs with him—and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her.

After a life of drifting from one thing to the next, Soleil Brodeur is determined to take control of her life. When her breakup with her manipulative fiancé turns ugly, Soleil searches out the stranger who offered her a lifeline and ends up in a Las Vegas biker bar where she meets a gorgeous, dangerous man straight out of her most secret fantasies.

High on adrenaline, she finds herself falling faster than she thought possible. But Soleil knows little about the territory she’s stumbled into, and even less about what it really means to be Ice’s woman.…

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I want to preface this with I am comparing this to other Christine Feehan books and not what I would have given any other author having read this book. I have read a lot of Feehan books and for some reason this one just didn’t do it for me.

It was almost like this book was rushed and had a bit too much sex. The sex in Feehan’s books is always good. It always is hot and written to entice. But the other part of the book just didn’t meet the standards of other books written by her…..

Now with that being said… As I said I am comparing it to Feehan books and not other authors. Comparing it to other authors would have brought the review numbers higher. Feehan is one of the best.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Kimberly reviews Lethal Game by Christine Feehan

TITLE: Lethal Game
SERIES #: GhostWalkers #16
CHARACTERS: Malichai & Amaryllis
AUTHOR: Christine Feehan
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/03/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The sparks of unexpected passion ignite in this electrifying GhostWalker novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

When Malichai Fortunes attacks a problem, he does it full force–a habit that earns the GhostWalker a painful injury and a forced vacation in San Diego, California. With nothing but physical therapy on the horizon, Malichai is starting to get restless…until a striking blue-eyed blonde makes all his senses come alive.

Amaryllis is kind and warm and sees beyond Malichai’s rough exterior, but he can tell there’s something she’s hiding. Her innate healing abilities indicate she might be a GhostWalker–albeit an untrained one. Malichai doesn’t think their crossing paths is anything more than coincidence, but he can sense that one wrong word could send Amaryllis running.

When strange events at his temporary retreat put Malichai on high alert, he knows he won’t be able to deal with the threat and keep his woman safe in his weakened state. But calling in his brothers means telling Amaryllis what he really is, and revealing that he knows the truth about her too…

REVIEW:
I just love the GhostWalker series. I like anything Christine Feehan writes. But something was a bit different about this GhostWalker romance. I am not exactly sure how to explain what was different but something was.

I really fell for Malichai. He is hurt but nothing stops him. And part of the suspense is trying to find out why he is not healing the way he should. I mean he is a GhostWalker after all. And Amaryllis is a great character as well. I just wanted to be her friend.

There is truly nothing Feehan writes that is not good. Usually better than good. But I will say this series can not be read as a stand alone. There is a lot of background that moves between the books in this series.

Another GREAT read!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

Kelly reviews Crush The King by Jennifer Estep

TITLE: Crush the King
SERIES #: Crown of Shards #3
CHARACTERS: Everleigh Blair Winter
AUTHOR: Jennifer Estep
PUBLICATION DATE: March 17, 2020
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A fierce gladiator queen must face off against her enemies in an epic battle in this next thrilling installment of New York Timesand USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep’s Crown of Shards series—an action-packed adventure full of magic, murderous machinations, courtly intrigue, and pulse-pounding romance.

Queen Everleigh Blair of Bellona has survived the mass murder of the royal family, become a fearsome warrior trained by an elite gladiator troupe, and unleashed her ability to destroy magic. After surviving yet another assassination attempt orchestrated by the conniving king of Morta, Evie has had enough. It’s time to turn the tables and take the fight to her enemies.
There is no better opportunity to strike than during the Regalia Games, a time when warriors, nobles, and royals from all the kingdoms come together to compete in various sporting events. With the help of her loyal friends, Evie goes on the attack at the Regalia, but things don’t turn out the way she hopes. Soon, she is facing a terrifying new threat, and she will have to dig deep and learn even more about her growing magic if she has any chance of defeating her foes.
Because to secure her throne and ensure her kingdom’s survival, Evie must think like a true Bellonan: she must outsmart and outwit her enemies . . . and crush the king.

REVIEW:
Crush the King follows Queen Everleigh and her friends into the annual Regalia Games and what could possibly be their final stand against the Mortans.

Wait… What…. No….. I need more pages…. *frantically clicking kindle for the next page*. This was my original reaction when I finished Crush the King.

I did enjoy this book very much but wanted more. More pages, more story, more Sullivan. I was not ready to leave yet. But I am thankful after the major angst from Protect the Prince that there was not that level of angst again. My poor heart couldn’t have handled it again.

Crush the King was a bit slow moving for me. Great story but slow. I was happy with how much Everleigh has grown over the course of these three books. And truly loved her ability to play the long game and how each piece of the puzzle fell into place.

It took me a bit to regroup and realize that this trilogy is over. But I am really, really hoping that there will be spin offs and that the publisher will realize that there are so many more stories that need to be told. I love the world that Jennifer has created and hope that we will get to come back to Bellona again soon.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Edelweiss, NetGalley & Harper Collins/Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts

Sunday Series Presents: Nalini Singh’s Hard Play Series

TITLE: Cherish Hard
SERIES #: Hard Play #1
CHARACTERS: Sailor Bishop & Ísa Rain
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
PUBLICATION DATE: November 14, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh kicks off her new Hard Play contemporary romance series with a sizzling story that’ll leave you smiling…

Sailor Bishop has only one goal for his future – to create a successful landscaping business. No distractions allowed. Then he comes face-to-face and lips-to-lips with a woman who blushes like an innocent… and kisses like pure sin.

Ísa Rain craves a man who will cherish her, aches to create a loving family of her own. Trading steamy kisses with a hot gardener in a parking lot? Not the way to true love. Then a deal with the devil (aka her CEO-mother) makes Ísa a corporate VP for the summer. Her main task? Working closely with a certain hot gardener.

And Sailor Bishop has wickedness on his mind.

As Ísa starts to fall for a man who makes her want to throttle and pounce on him at the same time, she knows she has to choose – play it safe and steady, or risk all her dreams and hope Sailor doesn’t destroy her heart.New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh kicks off her new Hard Play contemporary romance series with a sizzling story that’ll leave you smiling…

Sailor Bishop has only one goal for his future – to create a successful landscaping business. No distractions allowed. Then he comes face-to-face and lips-to-lips with a woman who blushes like an innocent… and kisses like pure sin.

Ísa Rain craves a man who will cherish her, aches to create a loving family of her own. Trading steamy kisses with a hot gardener in a parking lot? Not the way to true love. Then a deal with the devil (aka her CEO-mother) makes Ísa a corporate VP for the summer. Her main task? Working closely with a certain hot gardener.

And Sailor Bishop has wickedness on his mind.

As Ísa starts to fall for a man who makes her want to throttle and pounce on him at the same time, she knows she has to choose – play it safe and steady, or risk all her dreams and hope Sailor doesn’t destroy her heart.

*****

TITLE: Rebel Hard
SERIES #: Hard Play #2
CHARACTERS:Nayna Sharma & Raj Sen
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
PUBLICATION DATE: September 18, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh continues her Hard Play series with a sweet, sexy romance featuring big, fat, OTT weddings, a meddling grandma, and a too-serious hero who needs to be unbuttoned…

Nayna Sharma agreed to an arranged marriage in the hope it would heal the fractures in her beloved family… only to realize too late that a traditional marriage is her personal nightmare. Panicked, she throws caution to the winds, puts on the tiniest dress she can find, and ends up in the arms of a tall, rough-edged hunk of a man who has abs of steel—and who she manages to mortally insult between one kiss and the next.

Abandoned as a child, then adopted into a loving family, Raj Sen believes in tradition, in continuity. Some might call him stiff and old-fashioned, but he knows what he wants—and it’s a life defined by rules… yet he can’t stop thinking about the infuriating and sexy woman who kissed him in the moonlight then disappeared. When his parents spring an introduction on him, the last woman he expects is her. Beautiful. Maddening. A rulebreaker in the making.

He’s all wrong for her. She’s all wrong for him. And love is about to make rebels of them both.

*****

TITLE: Love Hard
SERIES #: Hard Play #3
CHARACTERS: Jacob Esera  & Juliet Nelisi
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
PUBLICATION DATE: March 10, 2020
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Jacob Esera, star rugby player and young single father, has worked hard to create a joyous life for his six-year-old daughter. After the death of his childhood sweetheart soon after their daughter’s birth, all Jake wants is safety and stability. No risks. No wild chances. And especially no Juliet Nelisi, former classmate, scandal magnet, and a woman who is a thorn in his side.

As a lonely teenager, Juliet embraced her bad-girl reputation as a shield against loneliness and rejection. Years later, having kicked a cheating sports-star ex to the curb, she has a prestigious job and loyal friends—and wants nothing to do with sportsmen. The last thing she expects is the fire that ignites between her and the stuffed-shirt golden boy who once loved her best friend.

Straitlaced Jacob Esera versus wild-at-heart Juliet Nelisi? Place your bets

 

 

 

 

About the author:

I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I spent three years living and working in Japan, where I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page.

I’ve worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher, but not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency, but I call it grist for the writer’s mill.

On writing

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. All of my stories held a thread of romance, even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes. Creating unique characters and giving them happy endings is my favorite thing. I even love the voices in my head, so there’s no other job I’d rather be doing. When I got the call in September 2002 that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.

Website| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Page

 

Kimberly reviews The Billionaire In Boots by Julia London

TITLE: The Billionaire In Boots
SERIES #: Princes Of Texas #3
CHARACTERS: Nick & Charlotte
AUTHOR: Julia London
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/03/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia London delivers a sexy new contemporary western, where a lonesome rancher and a no-nonsense cowgirl learn that you don’t choose who you fall for–love lassos you….

As the firstborn son, it’s been drilled into Nick that he is the heir apparent to the Prince family empire. But cattle ranching has never been his true passion. Nick wants to be a pilot. However, when his father dies, leaving Nick to clean up the mess, he knows he must do his duty before following his heart.

Charlotte Bailey can’t believe that Nick is back to run the ranch. As the office manager, she knows it’s her responsibility to help him. If only he wasn’t so brooding and cranky–and so hot it’s a wonder his chaps don’t melt right off him. But when sparks fly between them, she’s adamant about staying away from a cowboy on his way out the door.

Nick knows the ranch’s pretty, smart, and capable office manager is off-limits, but he needs her. And working in such close proximity to Charlotte every day is making Nick crazy. She smells good, she looks good, she makes him laugh, but most of all she makes him want to stay…

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is the third in the series but I have not read the other two and it was perfectly fine. It can be a stand alone.

This is a sweet cowboy romance, yes a bit typical but still \sweet all the same. I adored the email exchanges. They are so funny and sarcastic that I actually caught myself snickering. I also liked that Charlotte wasn’t a wallflower. She told Nick exactly how it was and while the sparks flew Charlotte was not a damsel in distress.

Nick is such a cowboy. Yeah he wants to be a pilot but ranching is in his blood.

Great beach read.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews You Had Me At Wolf by Terry Spear

TITLE: You Had Me At Wolf
SERIES #: Wolff Brothers #1
CHARACTERS: Nicole & Blake
AUTHOR: Terry Spear
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/25/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
First in a thrilling new series from USA Today bestseller Terry Spear featuring the hot, powerful Wolff brothers!

A wolf on a mission cannot be deterred…
The hot, powerful Wolff brothers have moved to the outskirts of Silver Town and opened a ski lodge. They’ve always wanted to live in a wolf-controlled area, and now they have their chance. They’re settling in for a quiet winter, when their lives suddenly become way more exciting than they’d ever planned.

Private Investigator and Gray wolf shifter Josie Grayson is hot on the trail of a dangerous criminal hiding out at the ski lodge when her partner takes ill and must leave her to pursue the mission alone. Blake Wolff steps in–he can’t resist the allure of this brilliant and focused she-wolf whose presence awakens a long dormant yearning in his heart.

As pursuit of their quarry heats up, Blake has a mission of his own…to convince Josie that there’s more to life than work…and that she’s his perfect mate.

REVIEW:
This is the first in a new series from Spear which is nice to see but of course it is in the same genre as Heart Of The Wolf series which is 28 books in (wow!) so seeing this is the same genre there didn’t seem all that different.

The story was fine. I liked the characters and liked how after a difficult previous meeting Nicole stands up to Blake and stands on her own two feet. I liked the Wolff brothers very much.

But that being said it is not too far from the other series but if you are a fan of the genre you won’t want to miss this book especially since it is the first in the series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Kimberly reviews How To Love Your Elf by Kerrelyn Sparks

TITLE: How To Love Your Elf
SERIES #: Embraced By Magic #1
CHARACTERS: Sorcha
AUTHOR: Kerrelyn Sparks
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Raised in isolation on the magic-shrouded Isle of the Moon, five girls became five sisters. Now women, they are ready to claim their places in the world—and perhaps change it forever . . .

FLAME AND FORTUNE

Sorcha knew the mission was dangerous. Leaving the safe grounds of her brother’s kingdom and parlaying with the elves across their border . . . well, treachery seemed at least as likely as true peace. But to support her sister, Sorcha would brave far more than the underhanded ways of the elves. Or so she thought, before she was taken hostage.

Of course, her captors didn’t count on her particular abilities—or on the help of the Woodsman, the mysterious thief who made his home in the forest. He saw the battle from the trees, saw the soldier attacking against incredible odds to save a comrade—and then saw the valiant fighter revealed as Princess Sorcha of Norveshka. He can’t tell if he wants to kidnap her or kiss her. But despite Sorcha’s stubbornness, his inconvenient honor, and a rebellion on the cusp of full war, something burns between them that neither can let go . . .

REVIEW:
Ok This is going to sound odd because if you look I gave it 3 stars but I think this is a book that people either love or dislike. But I am just not sure how I felt so I rated it right down the middle.

I never connected with the characters. Something was just off with the romance. It almost felt forced.

I see it is the first in a new series but if also falls under the Embraced series as well.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Kimberly reviews Sisters By Choice by Susan Mallery

TITLE: Sisters By Choice
SERIES #: Blackberry Island #4
CHARACTERS: Sophie, Kristine & Heather
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/11/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Cousins by chance, sisters by choice…

After her cat toy empire goes up in flames, Sophie Lane returns to Blackberry Island, determined to rebuild. Until small-town life reveals a big problem: she can’t grow unless she learns to let go. If Sophie relaxes her grip even a little, she might lose everything. Or she might finally be free to reach for the happiness and love that have eluded her for so long.

Kristine has become defined by her relationship to others. She’s a wife, a mom. As much as she adores her husband and sons, she wants something for herself—a sweet little bakery just off the waterfront. She knew changing the rules wouldn’t be easy, but she never imagined she might have to choose between her marriage and her dreams.

Like the mainland on the horizon, Heather’s goals seem beyond her grasp. Every time she manages to save for college, her mother has another crisis. Can she break free, or will she be trapped in this tiny life forever?

Told with Mallery’s trademark humor and charm, Sisters by Choice is a heartfelt tale of love, family and the friendships that see us through.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Oh how I adored this story and Oh how I love Susan Mallery! Susan has a way of bringing you right into her world and you not only want to visit you want to pack up and move there. Blackberry Island has been no different.

In this story we meet Sophie, Kristine and Heather. They are “Sisters By Choice”. We all have one of those or maybe more than one like in this case.

Having my own Sister By Choice made this story more real to me. My SBC and I have been through so much and yet when we should have fallen apart we grew closer together. As I read about Sophie, Kristine and Heather I knew they could and would survive it all together.

Susan Mallery is simply the best when it comes to writing. She is always the first I mention when someone asks who I read. And this story is just proof as to why. Another wonderful trip to Blackberry Island.

Disclaimer:I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

 

Sunday Series Presents: Darcy Burke’s The Untouchables Series

TITLE: The Forbidden Duke
SERIES #: The Untouchables #1
CHARACTERS: Eleanor Lockhart & Titus St. John
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: March 15, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Spinster Miss Eleanor Lockhart is suddenly homeless and employment is her only option. Ruined after succumbing to a scoundrel’s excessive charm nearly a decade ago, she’s lucky to obtain a position as a paid companion and committed to behaving with the utmost propriety. She definitely shouldn’t be in the arms of a man capable of utterly destroying what little remains of her reputation…

Titus St. John, Duke of Kendal, is known as the Forbidden Duke, a mysterious, intimidating figure who enters Society just once each year at his stepmother’s ball. A decade ago, he was a devil-may-care rake until his idle roguery brought about the ruin of Eleanor Lockhart—and his resulting self-imposed isolation. Now she’s back, and she needs his help. But by “saving” her, he may just ruin her life all over again.


*****
TITLE: The Duke of Daring
SERIES #: The Untouchables #2
CHARACTERS: Lucinda Parnesll & Andrew Wentworth
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: July 5, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Miss Lucinda Parnell is out of money, a dismal failure at the Marriage Mart, and she’d just as soon leave Society far behind. Desperate to earn funds to retire with her grandmother to the country, Lucy disguises herself as a man to gamble in London’s hells. But the Earl of Dartford, an Untouchable she never imagined speaking to let alone spending time with, is onto her in a trice. When he insists on joining her, Lucy fears her desire to remain an independent woman is destined to go up on flames.

As a boy, Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford lost his family to illness, leaving him a hollow shell. Obsessed with conquering one adventure after another to fill the bitter holes inside of him, Andrew has set his sights on parachuting. Nothing will stop him from trying to achieve his goal—not the hazard of death and certainly not a woman who’s gotten far too close. Love is the one risk he doesn’t have the heart to dare.

*****

TITLE: The Duke of Deception
SERIES #: The Untouchables #3
CHARACTERS: Aquilla Knox & Edward Bishop
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE:
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

BOOK SYNOPSIS: After five years on the Marriage Mart, Miss Aquilla Knox is ready for spinsterhood until a benefactress steps in to help her secure a husband. Only Aquilla doesn’t actually want to marry—her failure is entirely on purpose. When the earl she’s nicknamed the Duke of Deception sets his sights on her, she refuses to be drawn in by her attraction to him. If there’s one thing she knows it’s that a gentleman is never what he seems.

Edward Bishop, Earl of Sutton, has a reputation for courting young misses and dropping them without a second thought. This has earned him a reputation for deceit, a description he can’t refute because he does in fact, harbor secrets and will do anything—deceive anyone—to ensure they don’t come to light. As he comes to know the charming Miss Knox, his resolve is tested. However, trust comes at a price and Ned won’t pay with his heart.

*****
TITLE: The Duke of Desire

SERIES #: The Untouchables #4
CHARACTERS: Ivy Breckenridge & Sebastian Westgate
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: March 28, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Ten years ago Ivy Breckenridge’s life was ruined. She had to reinvent herself, and now, after painstakingly making her own way in the world, she’s nearly forgotten the dreams of home and family she’d once nurtured. Until one man peers into her soul and awakens every one of her hidden desires. But no matter how good he makes her feel, she can’t trust him-alone by choice is better than alone by necessity. With a notorious reputation for training married women in the art of passion, Sebastian Westgate, Duke of Clare, is reviled by some and celebrated by others. He doesn’t allow anyone close enough to see past his charming exterior. When Ivy uncovers the man beneath, the seducer is suddenly the seduced. Enraptured by her mind and spirit, he wants more but revealing his darkest secrets is a price he won’t pay.

*****

TITLE: The Duke of Defiance
SERIES #: The Untouchables #5
CHARACTERS: JOanna Shaw & Bran Crowther
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: June 27, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Difficult and defiant as a child, Bran Crowther, Earl of Knighton left England as a young man to pursue independence and adventure. He never expected to inherit the title and when duty calls him home, he still finds Society’s codes constricting and others’ expectations oppressive. Nevertheless, he needs a wife to be a mother to his young daughter, preferably a woman of intelligence and warmth who is, above all, immune to his idiosyncrasies—and to falling in love.

Widow Joanna Shaw isn’t interested in a second marriage, not after the loveless, passionless union she endured. She’d much rather dote on her young niece and nephew since they will likely be the only children in her life…until she meets a precocious girl, in desperate need of a mother. But her father, the so-called Duke of Defiance, is as peculiar as he is handsome, and Jo won’t take another risk with her heart. Their rules, however, are made to be broken, even when the consequences could destroy them both.

*****
TITLE: The Duke of Danger

SERIES #: The Untouchables #6 
CHARACTERS: Emmaline Townsend & Lionel Maitland

AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: September 26, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After killing his opponent in a duel, Lionel Maitland, Marquess of Axbridge, is known as the Duke of Danger. Tortured by guilt, he shields himself with a devil-may-care attitude. However, when he kills another man in another duel, he’s beyond redemption, even though it wasn’t his fault. He refuses to smear a dead man’s name, especially when he’s left behind a blameless widow who doesn’t deserve an even bigger scandal.

Widowed and destitute, Lady Emmaline Townsend must marry the man of her parents’ choosing or beg unsympathetic relatives for support. The only way out is to ask for help from the one man she’s sworn to hate, the man who owes her anything she asks, the man who killed her husband. They strike a devil’s bargain in which passion simmers just beneath the surface. But her dead husband’s transgressions come back to haunt them and threaten their chance at love.

*****

TITLE: The Duke of Ice
SERIES #: The Untouchables #7
CHARACTERS: Violet Pendleton & Nicholas Bateman
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: December 26, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Everyone Nicholas Bateman ever loved has died. Except Violet Caulfield, which must mean he never loved her. Nine years after she threw him over to marry a viscount, Nick is a widowed duke who prefers isolation. When a friend convinces him to leave his lair of self-imposed solitude, he considers taking another wife, provided she agrees to his terms: no emotional attachment of any kind.

Now widowed, Lady Violet Pendleton hopes for a second chance with the man she’s always loved. But she isn’t prepared for the desolation in his soul or the animosity he still bears toward her. Despite those obstacles, it’s clear their passion hasn’t dimmed. However, the heat between them isn’t enough to melt the Duke of Ice, and this time Violet may find herself the jilted party. Can love, once so tragically lost, finally be found?

*****
TITLE: The Duke of Ruin
SERIES #: The Untouchables #8 
CHARACTERS: Diana Kingman & Simon Hastings
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: March 27, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
With her betrothal to a duke in tatters and scandal imminent, Diana Kingman has two choices: live in certain ignominy or flee into obscurity. Diana wants solitude. She never wished to wed in the first place. However, her father will stop at nothing to betroth her to one of the finest titles in the realm…no matter how loathsome the bearer. Escape is Diana’s only option, and she’ll pay any price to achieve freedom.

Universally blamed for the death of his wife and unborn child, Simon Hastings doesn’t dispute his guilt over an accident he cannot even remember. He hasn’t had a drink since, nor a moment’s peace. Determined to be a better man, Simon rescues a young woman in need—only to be accused of kidnapping. They must marry to save him from prison. But how can a man haunted by the love he lost and a woman afraid to get too close find happiness together?

*****

TITLE: The Duke of Lies
SERIES #: The Untouchables #9
CHARACTERS: Verity Beaumont & Rufus Beaumant
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: March 29, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Verity Beaumont has suffered domineering men most of her life, first with her father and then with her husband. Free from both men, she has finally found peace. Even meeting a kind and hard-working gentleman who just might be the perfect father her young son so desperately needs. But as she dares look to the future, her carefully ordered world is shattered when her dead husband returns.

Imprisoned in America during the war, Rufus Beaumont, Duke of Blackburn, wants nothing more than to return to his native England. He longs for comfort and safety away from the horrors of battle, only the life he returns to is not the life he left. He must convince his wife that their marriage is worth fighting for, that he’s not the man he was. But when the truth about what happened to him leaks out, he must prove that not everything about him, especially his love for her, is a lie

*****
TITLE: The Duke of Seduction
SERIES #: The Untouchables #10
CHARACTERS: Lavinia Gillingham & William Beckett
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: August 21, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lady Lavinia Gillingham prefers rocks and dirt to marriage. Her passion is science, and she’s determined to marry if—and only if—she finds a man who supports her interests and intellect. So far, she’s managed to avoid attention on the Marriage Mart, but when the Duke of Seduction pens anonymous letters singing her praises, she suddenly become the toast of the ton and matrimony seems imminent.

William Beckett, Marquess of Northam possesses the reputation of a rake, but is secretly a romantic. Spurned at sixteen, he doesn’t expect to feel the sting of Cupid’s bow a second time, and yet he’s able to woo the coldest of hearts with the anonymous words he publishes. As the Duke of Seduction, he uses his skill to help Lavinia, never anticipating she has no desire for assistance. While Lavinia is pursued by several suitors, Beck is the one who is seduced when he learns that love can strike twice.

*****

TITLE: The Duke of Kisses
SERIES #: The Untouchables #11
CHARACTERS: Frances Snowden & David Langley
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: November 27, 2018
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Frances Snowden can hardly believe her good fortune when she’s whisked away from her boring life by her sister who is now a duchess. Instead of becoming the third wife of her parents’ stuffy neighbor, she can be anything she wants: a doting aunt to her newborn niece, a debutante in London, or even an independent spinster. But when she meets and kisses a mysterious man on a walk in the countryside, she knows exactly what she desires—him.

David Langley, Earl of St. Ives, is resigned to marrying the dull woman his parents chose when he was a child. His future is suddenly, and happily, diverted when he encounters a captivating young woman who shows him everything he’s been missing. Ready to embark on a blissful life together, a long-buried feud between their families makes their marriage impossible. Nothing is more important than duty and family, but can he turn his back on love?

*****
TITLE: The Duke of Distraction

SERIES #: The Untouchables #12
CHARACTERS: Sarah Colton & Felix Havers
AUTHOR: Darcy Burke
PUBLICATION DATE: February 26, 2019
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After witnessing how love embittered his uncle and broke his father, Felix Havers, Earl of Ware vows never to love. He conceals his emotions behind a wall of wit and charm, and is celebrated as the master of entertainment—parties, picnics, races. When his best friend’s wallflower sister needs to find a husband, he promises to make her the toast of London… without losing his heart.

Miss Sarah Colton has given up on the pursuit of marriage. When her parents learn she intends to open a millinery shop, they give her an ultimatum: choose a husband or they’ll do it for her. She accepts Felix’s help, never imagining their scheme will ignite a mutual attraction neither of them dare indulge. But when tragedy strikes, can they heal each other or will the demons of Felix’s past consume them both?

 

 

 

About the author:
Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Join her Reader Group at https://www.darcyburke.com/join-my-reader-group/. A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, two Bengal cats and a third cat named after a fruit.

Learn more about Darcy here: Facebook Page | Darcy’s Duchesses Historical Group | Burke’s Book Lovers Contemporary Group | Twitter | Instagram| Pinterest | Goodreads | Contemporary Crushes (Facebook Group) | BookBub

 

 

 

*****

Kimberly reviews The Intended Victim by Alexandra Ivy

TITLE: The Intended Victim
SERIES #: The Agency #4
CHARACTERS: Remi & Ash
AUTHOR: Alexandra Ivy
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/31/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
ONCE, SHE GOT AWAY
The body lying on a cold steel slab bears all the hallmarks of the Chicago Butcher. There’s a cruel slash across her throat, deep enough to sever the carotid artery, and a small crescent carved into her right breast. Her delicate features are painfully familiar to Ash Marcel, once a rising star in the Chicago PD. But though the victim resembles his former fiancée, Remi Walsh, he knows it’s not her.

BUT THIS TIME
Though Remi escaped a serial killer five years ago, her father died trying to save her. Grief and guilt caused her to pull away from the man she loved. Now Ash is back in her life, insisting that Remi is still in danger.

IT’S A DEAD END . . .
Someone is targeting women who look just like Remi. With or without a badge, Ash intends to unmask the Butcher. But the killer isn’t playing games any longer. He’s moving in, ready to finish what he started, and prove there’s nothing more terrifying than a killer’s obsession . . .

REVIEW:
I have truly enjoyed all the works from Alexandra Ivy. There is nothing she can’t write and I can’t enjoy!

The suspense is well written (but then anything by Ivy is) but I found myself on the edge of my seat a few times. And this is certainly one that I said to myself “one more chapter” and then at the end of the chapter “ok one more”.

Remi and Ash make a great partnership and I hope that Jax (Ash’s brother) gets his own story soon. Because I have to say he was my favorite character in the book.

Another great read from Alexandra Ivy. I would say to read from the beginning of the series but that is just so you can be familiar with Ivy’s Agency. But it can be read alone.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts