The MacKinnon's Bride (MacKinnon Sisters, Book One): Tanya Anne Crosby

“THE WARRIOR’S VENGEANCE

“Fiercely loyal to clan alone, Iain MacKinnon will never be a slave to King or conqueror—even when his son, Malcom, is taken hostage by a lackey of the English-loving sovereign. Answering treachery in kind, the proud Scottish chieftain kidnaps the beautiful wild daughter of young Malcom’s captor—unaware that his prisoner’s father is well pleased to be rid of the troublesome wench!

“THE MACKINNON’S BRIDE

“He is the enemy—yet the fire that burns in Iain MacKinnon’s eyes kindles a passion in Page FitzSimon that she has never permitted herself to feel. But the bewitching hellion is determined to resist the MacKinnon, even as her body awakens—not knowing she has enchanted the true and guarded heart of a champion who now must protect and cherish her always.”

I’ve never read Tanya Anne Crosby before and I have to say that she now ranks up there with some of my favorite authors! As usual, I was excited about reading a new author, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Crosby, however, did not disappoint!

Her characters were FANTASTIC! The dialogue was some of THE BEST that I have ever read and I could hear their voices in my head. (I will say, however, that the Scottish dialogue might be a bit more difficult for others to comprehend if they do not have the time or imagination to put into it. I promise that it’s worth it though!) The plot itself was interesting and different. It kept me reading page after page and I just did not want to put it down. I am really, really looking forward to reading the second in the MacKinnon Sisters series!

His Lordship's Desire: Joan Wolf

“Napoleon’s troops stand defeated and Wellington’s Spanish campaign is over. Now a dedicated British soldier enters a very different kind of war: a battle for the woman he loves…

“The eldest son of the Earl of Standish and heir to his late father’s holdings, Alexander Devize is summoned home to his duties in England. Waiting for him, he believes, is Diana Sherwood, the irrepressible beauty with whom he shared an unforgettable night of passion, a young woman he fully intends to marry. But Diana, lovelier and more headstrong than ever, has other intentions.

“A soldier’s daughter, Diana refuses to suffer the harsh world of being a soldier’s wife and plans instead her coming out in London, ignoring the memories of wild and reckless Alex. Convinced she’d found the proper, stable gentleman in Robert Welbourne, she pursues her course, unaware of a treachery building around her—or of the unwavering devotion of a soldier willing to fight for all he’s worth in a battle he must not lose.”

Took me long enough, but I finally finished this book by Joan Wolf. I am not really sure why it took me so long… The only explanation I can offer is the fact that the book seemed to slow down a little.

This is the first book I read by Joan Wolf, so—as usual—it takes me a bit to get used to an author that is so different from what I usually read. Her writing wasn’t bad; it was just a little bit different. I think part of what made it take so long for me to read was the fact that I wasn’t really seeing as much emotional expression as in other authors’ books. I think the only real way to describe this book is a “love story” and not really a “romance novel”. It wasn’t a bad book, but not entirely my cup of tea. The characters were sweet and I really liked the plot as well.

Upon the Midnight Clear (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Twenty-two): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“EVER THINK SCROOGE HAD IT RIGHT BEFORE THE GHOSTS RUINED HIS LIFE? MEET AIDAN O’CONNER.

“At one time he was a world-renowned celebrity who gave freely of himself and his money without wanting anything in return…until those around him took without asking. Now Aidan wants nothing to do with the world—or anyone who’s part of it.

“WHEN A STRANGER APPEARS ON HIS DOORSTEP, AIDAN KNOWS HE’S SEEN HER BEFORE…IN HIS DREAMS.

“Born on Olympus as a goddess, Leta knows nothing of the human world. But a ruthless enemy has driven her from the world of dreams and into the home of the only man who can help her: Aidan. Her immortal powers are derived from human emotions—and his anger is just the fuel she needs to defend herself…

“ONE COLD WINTER’S NIGHT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER…

“Trapped together in a brutal winter storm, Aidan and Leta must turn to the only power capable of saving them—or destroying them both: trust.”

Yay! I finally got to read another Sherrilyn Kenyon book! This one was short and sweet with fantastic characters and an interesting—yet simple—plot. It was one of the easier books of Kenyon’s to follow and it was nice (not that I don’t enjoy her more complicated books!).

Aidan was entertaining. His angst made for a captivating plot and back-story and Leta was the perfect counterpart for him. Overall, it was well-written and a fun read—not to mention that I REALLY enjoyed the little short story at the end of the book. It was cool to see so many different views.

Falling In Love Again: Cathy Maxwell

“A BRIDE SCORNED

“Highborn country heiress Mallory Edwards was dutifully fulfilling family obligations when she exchanged marriage vows with a dashing gentleman she barely knew. But the charming beast, John Barron, abandoned her on their wedding night. Now, years later—evicted from her home and facing prison because of her husband’s debts—she has finally found the blackguard again. And she’s not leaving until the faithless rogue grants her a divorce!

“A GROOM ENCHANTED

“Who is this extraordinary hellion who burst into John’s wild London soiree? Could it be the forgotten rural miss whom his father once forced him to wed? Now that Mallory has reentered his life, John desperately wants her to stay—and not simply because he needs her help to trap the embezzler who is ruining them both. The lady has bewitched John Barron with her sensuality and her fire. But to win her hardened heart, he will have to change more than his mind—and become a caring and thoughtful true husband worthy of her passion and unparalleled love.”

All I can say is Cathy Maxwell is a fantastic author! Her writing was beautiful and her plot and characters were enthralling. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found myself looking forward to having a chance to pick it up.

What was amazing to me was the fact that not only was the book wonderful, but it was BASED ON REAL PEOPLE! The main characters really existed! I couldn’t believe it! I have never read an author that was brave enough to attempt something like this. Yes, I have read books that the authors have set in actual battles or the main characters interact with people who really existed, but I have never read a book in which the main characters were real. I was SO impressed and I can’t wait to find out if Cathy Maxwell has done that with more of her books.

The Mad Marquis: Fiona Carr

“SPURRING A MAD DESIRE

“Julia Westfall was being forced into marriage—with her fiercest rival on the hunt field. True, Henry Pelham was the man to whom she’d lost her heart, and he was still her secret dream. But what the widowed marquis proposed was hardly suitable—a loveless union with no children. A woman who raced her own stallions for the thrill and challenge of it could hardly be expected to rein in her passion.

“Her new husband saw his dotty aunt, loopy uncle, and willful daughter as evidence that madness ran in his family, as proof that siring more offspring would be irresponsible. But Julia would show that the craziest thing he could do was spurn her advances. For her most exciting and dashing competitor on horseback would soon be her most potent and powerful match in the bedroom.”

This was the first book by Fiona Carr that I’ve had an opportunity to read. I must say that I was impressed. The book started out interestingly enough, slowed only a little bit (though I might have to attribute that to the fact that I’m on a vacation with my two little cousins who demand a lot of attention), then really picked up pace. I LOVED the characters and the plot was fascinating. This was genuinely a fun read! I caught myself smiling on more than one occasion.

In other words, I really enjoyed it. Fiona Carr is a very talented author and I will try to get my hands on her other book as soon as possible!

Brave Land, Brave Love (Australia Trilogy, Book Three): Connie Mason

“BRAVE, BOLD AND BRASH…

“those were the traits of the men bred in the land down under, and there was none braver than Ben Penrod. Only one thing would turn his sun-bronzed visage pale, and that was a marriage-minded female. Though Ben was heir to the vast Australian holdings of Penrod station, he had no intention of saddling himself with a wife…until he met his match in the most alluring and contrary creature he’d ever beheld. With hair like moonbeams and eyes like aquamarines, Tia was only as big as a child, yet her lush curves proclaimed her all woman. With manners as dainty as those of any fine lady, she could charm his highborn friends, yet her salty language would make a Cockney blush. And instead of being pursued, Ben found himself being refused by the one woman who had captured his heart for all time!”

Ah, yes. The finale to the Australia trilogy by Connie Mason. It took me quite a while to get to it, but it was well worth it. I was not disappointed in the least! The recurring characters from the past two novels definitely remained true. The settings were written in Connie Mason’s usual eloquent manner. I was thoroughly impressed yet again by the quality of the writing and I could not read it fast enough. It flowed perfectly and I practically devoured it.

As always, look for more reviews on Connie Mason in the future!