What I read this week:
W
hen a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath
Sins for All Seasons #2
Historical Romance
August 21, 2018 by Avon
Favorite Quote:
“You are a remarkable woman, Gillie Trewlove. I am a better man for having known you.”
The second book in the Sins for all Seasons series by Lorraine Heath introduces readers to Gillie Trewlove. One of six children left on Ettie Trewlove’s doorstep, she’s grown into a smart, savvy business owner who looks out for her neighbors around her tavern in Whitechapel.
Antony Coventry, Duke of Thornley, isn’t having a great night. Left at the alter earlier in the day, he ventures into the seedier side of London in order to try and track down his wayward fiancée. Set upon by robbers in an alleyway, he is willing to give up his coin and signet ring, but he draws the line at the timepiece left to him by his dying father. He is beat all to hell when Gillie runs off his attackers and helps him up to her apartment to look over his wounds and call for a physician. It takes days for his body to heal, and in that time he finds himself falling for his fascinating, alluring nursemaid.
I liked this story. I liked that it featured an older woman who wasn’t the normal dressed up, pampered historical romance heroine. Gillie is a 30 year old tavern owner who binds her breasts, cuts her hair above her shoulders and isn’t concerned with making herself look pretty to the opposite sex. She’s tall and strong and content with her place in the world. She may not know the identity of her birth parents, but she is part of a loving, accepting chosen family. She has her tavern and does her part to help those in need in her neighborhood. After rescuing the Duke of Thornley from attackers she not only nurses him back to health, but agrees to help him look for his fiancée. In the process she falls in love and tentatively embraces her softer side. But she always remains true to herself.
This isn’t one of those firey, angsty, rip your heart out of your chest romances. The love affair between Thornley and Gillie felt softer and despite their difference in social standing, easier. Maybe because Gillie is a grown woman and already settled into an independent life or maybe because these two go into their affair with eyes wide open and with full acceptance of their circumstances. They communicate and treat each other with respect and I appreciated that.
This was a nice, easy read and I am looking forward to the next book in the series which will feature Finn.
Final Grade-B
Darkest Heart by Juliette Cross
Dominion #1
Paranormal Romance
August 20, 2018 by Entangled Publishing
Favorite Quote:
“You’re the original light, Anya. Brighter than them all.”
I picked this book to read and review because not only was this the first book in a new series, but Juliette Cross is a new to me author. This series is labeled PNR, but there isn’t a shifter or vampire in sight. This series features angels and demons and their war with each other. The hero, (anti-hero really) is a demon who has been marked as a traitor to his kind. The heroine is an angel who is desperate to find a missing archangel in hopes that he will save her life. They are brought together by a mutual ally and their desire for each other is apparent from the moment they meet.
I found the world building of this series fascinating. Angels and demons set amid a post apocalyptic world full of sin and desire and war and death. Anya and Dom travel across the world looking for clues about Uriel’s whereabouts. The line between good and evil is blurred and even the demons running fight clubs and singing in hard rock bands can be allies, while hard nosed angels leading an army to defeat demons show their true colors in their disregard for human life.
Anya and Dom quickly form a bond and their relationship is suuuupa sexy. Super, super sexy. I love it when the bad, bad boy falls for the good girl. But while I did enjoy their love story quite a bit, I think my favorite part of this story was the atmosphere and world-building. It was so dark and gritty. I absolutely can not wait to find out what comes next. I have a feeling this will be one of those series that just gets better and better as the series evolves.
What I read in KU:
Deceiving the Corsair by Ruby Dixon
Corsairs #4
Science Fiction Romance
August 12, 2018 Self Published
This is my favorite series by this author. I’m a sucker for big, blue space pirates. This is Sentorr’s book and his heroine is someone who he has been having a long distance, sexy talk over comms relationship with. He loves her, and she loves him… so what’s holding them back in finally meeting face to face and hooking up? The fact that she’s a human woman rescued from slavers and raised by three Mesakkah brothers. She considers herself ugly and is afraid of rejection. But of course Sentorr loves her for her and doesn’t give two shits that she’s human. And he’ll show her everyday for the rest of their lives just how attractive he finds her.
this is a fast, fun, sexy read. All I could think when I finished was OMG please don’t let this be the end of this series. I need more space pirates in my life.
My TBR and what’s coming next week:
The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne: I looooved this book so hard. No one writes broody, damaged anti-heroes like Kerrigan Byrne. My review will post next Monday.
The Governess Game by Tessa Dare– I’m starting this today and I’m so excited. I adore this author. My review will post next Monday.
Stripped by Zoey Castille– Every person I know who has read this has had nothing but great things to say.
Whiskey Chaser by Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley– I SWEAR I’M FINISHING THIS BOOK THIS WEEK. IT’S HAPPENING.
How to Dance an Undead Waltz by Hailey Edwards– Here’s the deal… this hit my Kindle the other day and even though it releases September 5th I don’t think I have the willpower to hold off finding out what is going on with Grier and Linus.
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