JENNIFER HAYMORE

http://www.jenniferhaymore.com

Genre: Erotic Historical Romance(Regency)

Series: The House of Trent #0.5 (Novella)

Source: Received for an honest review from the publisher.

• Publisher: Forever Yours (May 7, 2013)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00B73T20I

Book Description(Amazon)

Welcome to the first revamped Oh My! Monday here at Behind Closed Doors. This week we have an extra special treat. My friend and fellow author Natasha Blackthorne stops in again to share another of her fabulous Regency erotic romances. Not only does she write about those Dominant Alpha Males, Natasha has them fall for the curvy girl. Since I can relate to that sort of heroine, I’m immediately drawn to Natasha’s stories. Long or short, I want to read them all! This time, she’s here to share a bit from A Measured Risk.  Sit back, relax, and let Natasha tell her tale.

A MEASURED RISK features a shy, intellectual, strong-willed widow with real life curves (Rubenesque/BBW) and a protective, possessive Dominant, alpha male hero. This is a story of Dominance and submission with light BDSM, emotional healing, trust and love.

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 A Measured Risk is an Erotic Historical Romance. This means it contains graphic sexual language. It also means that there is a greater focus on the development of the romance through eroticism than in Mainstream/Traditional Steamy or Spicy Romance.

Blurb

 He is her most dangerous temptation and now he is demanding her submission. Dare she take the risk?

Emotionally scarred in the horrific accident that took her husband’s life, Lady Cranfield is imprisoned by her lingering terror of horses and carriages. She longed to be closer to the fascinating Earl of Ruel. She sensed intuitively that he could teach her how to overcome the terrors that held her in bondage.

And now she’s willing to risk almost anything-her reputation, even her virtue-to find out. But what he proposes startles her.

When the shy, studious and socially awkward young widow approached him, Ruel instantly sensed she would be the sweetest, most submissive experience of a lifetime-if only he can gain her total and complete trust. He makes her a non-negotiable offer. His help in return for her submission and obedience.

But Lady Cranfield grew up neglected by her ducal parents, raised by servants and then later ignored by her handsome, charming husband. She’s learnt to protect her heart at all costs and she trusts no one but herself.

How can the jaded Earl of Ruel break through her self-protective defenses and show her how to love when he has spent his lifetime avoiding that tender trap?

Adult Excerpt

“Why did you run away?” His deep voice settled in her belly, rich and warm, like crème brûlée on a cold winter’s night.

“Because I wanted you to follow.” She tried to sound sophisticated and seductive, but her voice choked off on the last word.

Ruel placed his hand on the shelf above her head and blocked her path to the door. His tall, solidly muscled body leaned over her, surrounding her with the sumptuous, sinful scents of tobacco, Scotch whisky and something masculine and undeniably dangerous. A slow, sensual smile stretched his hard mouth.

He appeared different. Softer. More approachable.

At the change, her insides seemed to flip over.

“Well, sweeting, getting us off alone was a very inspired idea.” He touched one of her fallen ringlets. “I am bored to distraction with endless hunting and fencing.”

As he slowly wrapped the curl around two fingers, he brushed her collarbone. Fiery sparks tingled down her spine, so intense that she shivered and her nipples beaded, pressing against her stays. By some instinct she hadn’t even known she possessed, she arched her back, presenting herself for his assessment.

His eyes shone so vividly blue against his bronzed face that they resembled cornflowers. She swallowed tightly and wished for a long drink of claret. This more personal side of him suddenly seemed far more hazardous than his usually fierce exterior.

Well, no matter. There was nothing to fear. She would allow only as much contact as need be to get to know him a little. Since being torn from her lonely yet secure life in Ireland and thrust into society at age sixteen, she’d spent her time allowing people only as near as was comfortable. She was an expert at emotional evasion.

It should be easy to regain her control.

But now, as late afternoon sun rays played over his pale hair, turning it to the colour of winter wheat, all her carefully rehearsed words flew away.

Say something—anything—else he will think you’re a bird-wit.

An intimate smile, one that invited her to play, tugged at his mouth.

“In a situation like this, alone with a gentleman, it’s perfectly normal for a lady to feel some apprehension.” His hushed voice, barely audible above the piano and boisterous singing from down the corridor, accentuated their isolation. He brushed his fingertips over her cheek and his gaze became so piercing that she had to lower her eyes. “She will invariably ask herself if he will try to kiss her.”

She jerked her eyes back to his face. God, he couldn’t mean to—Not yet, surely… Peculiar, heated chills swept over her. She tried to take a step back, but found her arse flush against the bookshelf.

He leaned closer; so close that his Scotch-scented breath tickled her face. “And just in case you are wondering, Lady Cranfield—the answer is most assuredly yes.”

She should demand that he put his arm down so she could pass by and leave. She really should. But she couldn’t stop looking at his hard mouth and wondering what it would feel like upon hers. He was so close to her, his breath blew on her lips. If she moved but a fraction, she’d be kissing him.

Kissing him.

Dear God. Her breath began to come very fast and short. Her throat went tight with a suppressed moan.

His eyes burnt as brightly as aquamarines. He looked so fierce. If he kissed her, if he dared… Oh God, it would be so harsh. That cruel-looking mouth could express itself no other way.

Excitement rushed through her, sending tingles to every point of her body, even her toes.

But no, he wouldn’t. Not yet.

He kept leaning closer. He didn’t close his eyes. Instead, he seemed to focus all the harder upon her.

Heart pounding and unable to move away, she braced herself for his assault.

His lips brushed hers, barely. A gossamer caress.

He lifted his head.

It was done.

Ended.

And it hadn’t even begun.

He held her chin, appearing so cool, so unaffected. His kiss had seemed to sear her. An urge to put her fingers to her lips arose in her. She resisted it, for it would give away too much of how she was affected.

Never show your feelings.

He traced his thumb along her lower lip, slowly, deliberately, as he studied her with eyes that now glittered with something powerful and predatory. Heat pooled in her pelvis, low and spreading even lower.

She went weak all over, as if she’d lain in a sunny window seat for too long. Her knees almost buckled. She forced them to lock. To be strong.

It should not have affected her so profoundly. It had just been a peck—not a true kiss at all. William had poured out all of his skill upon her and hadn’t garnered even a tenth of the reaction in her that this man’s peck had.

Ruel traced her jaw line with his fingertips. Unthinkingly, she leaned in to his touch.

“Of course, once he has kissed her, then it’s his turn to wonder…” His voice sounded unnaturally loud to her ears. “How will she respond? Will she withdraw, or can he ignite some hidden fire?”

She sensed that he was toying with her. She’d didn’t understand flirtation—why had she imagined she could carry this ruse off? Was he making advances in order to have a laugh with Francesca and her simpering friends later? Hurt blossomed in her chest. She resented him for that. She ought to feel indignant, superior, uncaring—anything but hurt.

“Please don’t make sport of me.”

She cringed. Was that quavering, pleading voice really hers?

An infinitesimal pause. “Now, why on earth would I do such a thing?” His voice was as smooth as velvet.

“To please your vanity,” she replied, trying to regain her wits.

“Here.” He placed her hand to his chest. The contours of his muscles were hard, powerfully developed. Even more so than she’d expected. His body heat radiated through the satin and, beneath her hand, his heart beat was rapid and strong.

“Is that vanity?” He put a finger under her chin, giving her no choice but to face him. “Is it?” He gentled his grip.

The warmth in his voice settled over her like luscious hot chocolate. Melting her insides to quivering burgoo, rendering her speechless, unable to move.

“My dear, lovely Lady Cranfield, I am going kiss you again.”

Then he touched his mouth to hers, more firmly this time.

Delicious, steady pressure. Her lips trembled and she clutched his lapels. He lifted his head. At the loss, a throaty, pleading moan sounded in her ears. Had it really come from her?

Clearly, now was the time for her to reassert some control over her reactions. To put him at a more comfortable distance.

“Kiss me back.” At the commanding edge in his voice, hot, sweet honey pooled in her belly.

No. Focus.

What had she wanted to ask him? Focus? Dear God, what rubbish. She could scarcely remember her own name, much less anything else. What madness had made her think she could maintain control over him?

He traced her mouth with his tongue. Deliberately; lingeringly. This time she couldn’t hold back a moan. She had grown to dislike it when William kissed her opened mouthed. It had always seemed such an overheated, messy thing. But where was her coldness now? She was burning to know what it would feel like to know Ruel’s full kiss. She had to know—just once—or she would surely die.

Just once. Certainly once wouldn’t hurt.

Tentatively, tremulously, she opened her mouth…

Copyright © Natasha Blackthorne, 2012

All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Total-E-Bound. 

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Wasn’t that fabulous? Do you want to read more? Here’s the links to get your very own copy of this book.

To Purchase a Paperback Copy
Barnes and Nobles | Total-e-Bound | Amazon USA | Amazon UK

The Ebook is currently available for 99 cents

All Romance Ebooks  | Amazon

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BLURB:

Eve Stanhope masquerades as a foreign princess at ton parties, stealing jewels from the nobility she despises and returning to her London slum at the end of the night. She’s carefully plotting revenge on her former employer–a society cad who’s ruined her reputation. Now it’s her turn to ruin him. What she doesn’t expect is to encounter the criminally handsome Orchid Thief on one of her heists.

Philip Rosemont, Viscount Wesley, is also in disguise. Bored and stifled by society, he steals jewels for fun and leaves orchids as his calling cards. He knows the woman he’s cornered at the ball is no aristocrat, much less the Princess of Eugenia Valdastock. But something tells him she’s not exactly common, either. Now he must uncover her motives while he enjoys her illicit kisses. Can these two become partners in crime even as they give in to their mutual seduction?

RHL Classifications:

Historical Romance
Victorian Era
Heat Level:  3
Review Rating:  Four stars

Review by Susan:

What little girl doesn’t dream of being a princess?  If one isn’t born with the title, the next best alternative is to pretend to be a princess.  Eve Stanhope, a despoiled governess in Alice Gaines’s historical romance Always A Princess conjures up such a scheme to give herself entrée into the ballrooms of London‘s haute ton.

Set in the Victorian Age when noble families throughout Eastern Europe are in a state of flux as old government regimes are being overthrown by new ones rising to power, Gaines enlightens audiences about this era when the proverbial changing of the guard incurs the consequence of displacing families and putting their lands and holdings in the hands of families who support the new regime.  During this age, many noble families in Eastern Europe found sanctuary among London’s elite where they were touted as the toast of the town.  What girl wouldn’t take advantage of such a unique opportunity to reinvent herself?  Such is the climate that is the inspiration for Gaines’s romance.

The story opens at a London ball where Philip Rosemont, Viscount Wesley, is studying a lovely woman who seems to have a crowd of men in the palm of her hand.  Curious about the elegantly garbed woman, he watches quietly from the sidelines as he assesses her.  Her accent is designed to reflect some Eastern European origin though he cannot place it, concluding that it is a generic hodgepodge of a German-French-Prussian-Austrian crossbreed.  His acute senses tell him that she is a fraud.  He is able to make such an assessment because he has extensive practice in acts of chicanery.  Confident that he is thoroughly knowledgeable about the telltale signs of establishing a pretense, he means to entrap the minx and discover what are her intentions in building up a façade to pass herself off as a princess?  She clearly has every man in the room fooled except Philip.

Gaines creates a landscape that hooks the reader in from the start, eager to not only discover who is Eve Stanhope and why she wants to pretend to be a princess but also to gain a closer look at Philip who projects confidence, intelligence, and an instinct honed from tapping into his survival skills.  His attributes are attractive being everything a woman is likely to look for in a romantic hero.  He takes control when Eve flounders in the dark guiding her to safety, and he surrenders to her lead in moments of amore.  He is charming and a gentleman in her company without conceding to Eve to play him for a fool.  Though Eve is the focal point, the star in which all of the other characters revolve around, it is Philip who moves the story along maneuvering the slow burning seduction.

Gaines endeavors to create a love match between a lowborn lady and a gentleman of the nobility who treads on the wild side, and it makes for a credible fantasy.  Though much of the language is more modern than the standard vernacular of 19th century England along the lines of Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronte, the meaning behind the words make it possible for contemporary audiences to comprehend the scenes.  Gaines writes Eve and Philip to be naughty as both are active jewel thieves, but she also gives them a set of principles which neither one will forfeit.  It is their principles which they share in common and bind them to one another.  The story is delightful and fodders the legend of romantic heroes existing in Victorian England.

Review Copy Received from Author

Summary:

Beth and Wendy had a plan to pay off the ranch—enter the barrel riding competition at the rodeo and win the money. Capturing hunky bull rider Casey Sanders would also be a nice consolation prize, one the women were more than willing to share. Casey proves more than up for the challenge, ready to Ride ‘Em Cowboy, but the question is – who is going to live happily ever after?

Deb’s Review:

This is a short story filled with a lot of heat and passion. Beth and Wendy are the two main characters in this book. They are two very strong ladies. Beth and Wendy do everything they can to save their ranch. In the process they discover something along the way.

Casey is a secondary character but he has his spotlight time to shine in this book. Casey is one hot cowboy, from the tips of his cowboy boots to the top of his Stetson. He’s every woman’s fantasy come true.

I have to say this book is worth the read, even though I felt like I was missing out on getting to know Wendy and Beth better. Cowboy up partners, and let these girls show you how to ride.

Ride ‘Em Cowboy is red hot fun!

Mary Suzanne is a blast to read! She pulls you into the story. As you turn the last page you know you will be satisfied!

Rated 4 Stilettos by Deb!

This Review was previously post at Dark Divas Reviews

Published: June 13, 2012

Publisher’s Blurb:

His heart was made of ice…
Born a nameless bastard into the Berserker horde, Finn is the measure of strength, ferocity, and brutality at the Temple of Freya. Sent to the Highlands bent on revenge and murder, he stumbles on an infant deserted in the snow. What he chooses next may seal his fate.

Her life was cold and empty…
Rhona McEwan has lost everything. Her husband, her child, and soon she fears she must relinquish her dignity in order to survive the bitter Highland winter. When the most fearsome, mysterious, and breathtaking man seeks the help she can give to the child in his arms, she’s unable to turn them away. Even though she’s not certain he’s entirely human.

Three of the world’s Unwanted…
On a snowy Solstice night during the magical Yuletide season, their need for each other may alter their destines forever.

In the third installment of the best-selling Highland Historical Series, Kerrigan Byrne weaves a tale of blood and vengeance, of love, redemption, and the bonds that make a family.

Tags: Romance, Historical, Highlander, Paranormal, Short-Story

Time Frame: Scottish Highlands, Winter, 1411

Heat Level: 3

REVIEW RATING : 5 stars

REVIEW BY LEE ANNE:

Kerrigan Byrne writes the most amazing Scottish highlander/berserker stories ever. She weaves the myth of the Scottish Berserker into a wonderful erotic love story that transcends time.

She never ceases to amaze me as she creates these wonderful characters that pull at your heartstrings and make you want to read more. This is the third in the Highland Historical Series and I’m hoping it’s not the last. I would love to get yet another of these wonderful stories.

Finn is an unwanted Berserker. He’s not welcome at the temple to Freya and those in power at the temple send Finn to his death. They send him on a mission to kill the impure Berserkers in the highlands. Little does Finn know he has a connection to these Berserkers.

Along the way, he rescues a wee bairn and finds a mate. It’s a wonderful love story that is filled with tension, battles and acceptance.

 Unwilling is currently available at Amazon for $2.99.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER:

I am a happily married mother of three very busy children.  Most of my time is spent chauffeuring my kids to their various activities. I cram reading into any spare moment I have. Some days I can have an hour or two and others I’m sneaking in quick reads while waiting on the kids to finish their soccer or gymnastics practice. I like to read a wide variety of genres but I definitely prefer romance. I can’t really pinpoint a favorite author as it changes on a regular basis. I absolutely love finding new authors and giving their stories a chance to be heard. We all have a voice in our heads writing stories and those voices should be given a chance to be heard.

1) Out November 1 *Book 4 in The Impossible Bachelors series*

Summary:

Summary:

Ellen Markham tells herself she’s happy raising flowers and living in near penury in the Oxfordshire countryside, but when Valentine Windham moves in just on the other side of the wood, Ellen’s longing for things she can never have threatens to overcome her good sense.

Valentine’s artistic soul, tender loving, and ducal determination tempt Ellen to trust and confide in a man who can only be endangered, should he learn of her past. For Valentine, regaining his musical skill becomes far less urgent than winning Ellen’s heart.

Click cover for excerpt and more info!

***

4) Out November 1

Summary:

Love is the ultimate gamble…
Seasoned gambler Philip Drake knows every trick and uses most of them. After years of infamy, he’s ready to accept the mantle of respectability with his earldom– until a devastating racing loss and the threat of debtors’ prison force Philip right back into his gaming ways…

Susannah, Lady Messingham, is a woman with a past who refuses to belong to any man again. But Philip’s skill catches her eye and she persuades him to teach her how to win at the tables. Their new partnership turns into an exhilarating high-stakes game that entangles them in terrifying risk and unimaginable rewards…

Immerse yourself in the risky side of Georgian England with a pair of lovers who aren’t afraid to risk it all on a toss of the dice…

Click cover for more info!

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5) Out November 1

Summary:

Beneath the cover of darkness, passion plays by its own rules.

Lovely, poised Anne Beddington is in a desperate situation: on the run for a crime she didn’t commit. Anne understands the wicked games she must play to survive—she has perfected her silky voice, practiced her feathery caress—but has she sufficiently mastered the art of seduction to become the mistress of the notorious Duke of March, Devon Audley? War has left him a recluse, but Anne is penniless, alone, and needs a powerful gentleman’s protection. Anne has learned how to pleasure a man, yet when this sinfully handsome duke insists that intimate delights must be a two-way street, Anne cannot deny his sensual promise.

Anne’s delicate hands hold a healing touch, but it’s her gentle kindness that opens the duke’s eyes to the beauty around him and to a family who need him. Still, Anne is a mystery, and Devon intends to spend endless erotic hours uncovering her secrets. When he finds out the terrible truth about the devious plot to brand her a villainess and endanger her life, saving Anne becomes his salvation. She has shown Devon how to live and love again. Now he will prove the power of his passion.

Click cover for excerpt and more info!

***

6) Out November 1

Summary:

Patience Waverly has no time for uppity English aristocrats – and no desire to become one. But when Patience and her twin, Prudence, arrive in London from Philadelphia to claim an inheritance, she discovers that she is now a Baroness. Prudence, meanwhile, is determined to marry into a title of her own. She sets her cap at Max Purefoy, the future Duke of Sunderland – and, to Patience’s dismay, the most seductive scoundrel she has ever met.

Max has little interest in frivolous Prudence, but the outspoken, outrageously attractive Baroness intrigues him. When Prudence’s plan to entrap Max almost ruins him, he seeks amends from Patience. She must become his wife. And he will settle for nothing less than making their union one of unrelenting, unending pleasure.

Click cover for more info!

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7) Out November 15 *E-Novella*

Summary:

Violet Winterbottom is a quiet girl. She speaks six languages, but seldom raises her
voice. She endured bitter heartbreak in perfect silence. The gentlemen aren’t beating
down her door.

Until the night of the Spindle Cove Christmas ball, when a mysterious stranger crashes
into the ballroom and collapses at Violet’s feet. His coarse attire and near-criminal good
looks would put any sensible young lady on her guard. He’s wet, chilled, bleeding, and
speaking in an unfamiliar tongue.

Only Violet understands him. And she knows he’s not what he seems.

She has one night to draw forth the secrets of this dangerously handsome rogue. Is he a
smuggler? A fugitive? An enemy spy? Before daybreak, she’s determined to find the
truth. But to learn his secrets, Violet must reveal hers—and open herself to adventure,
passion, and the unthinkable… Love.

Click cover for more info!

***

8 ) Out November 15 *Book 2 of The Brethren Guardians series*

Summary:

Lucy Ashton had long ago given up her quest for true love. In the rarified society of Victorian England, Lucy plays the game–flirting, dancing and dabbling in the newly fashionable spiritualism. Even marrying when–and who–she’s supposed to. If the stuffy Duke of Sussex cannot spark the passion she craves, he can at least give her a family, a home of her own,and a place to belong. But when her polite marriage reveals a caring and sensual man, Lucy begins to wonder if she can indeed have it all.

But Lord Sussex is not the man the London ton has come to admire. And Lucy has some ghosts of her own, as well. Thus, when a blackmail scheme turns to threats of danger, the newfound peace of the Sussex marriage is cast upon the rocks. Passion has a price, Lucy learns. And not all ghosts stay buried.

Click cover excerpt and more info!

***

9) Out November 15 *Omnibus*

Summary:

Three soldiers, three generations, finding love at Christmas

1812: A Christmas in Paradise

To save nurse Laura Ortiz from destitution, British naval surgeon Thomas Wilkie has made her an offer this Christmas—a marriage of convenience….

1855: O Christmas Tree

A generation later, it’s Thomas and Laura’s daughter, widowed lone mother Lilian, who’s working as a nurse in the Crimea. Christmas seems a long way away—until Major Trey Wharton helps her bring back the festive sparkle.

1877: No Crib for a Bed

Lilian’s son Captain Wilkie Wharton is finally on his way home from Fort Laramie. It’s a long, arduous, life-changing train journey…which sees him discover his soul mate and the true meaning of Christmas!

Click cover for more info!

***

10) Out November 22 *Book 4 of The Hellions of Halstead Hall series*

Summary:

Like everything daredevil Gabriel Sharpe does, pursuing Virginia Waverly is a high-stakes game. Ever since her brother Roger died racing Lord Gabriel, Virginia has yearned to take her revenge on the reckless lord by beating him at his own sport. But when she challenges Lord Gabriel to a race, the hellion who has always embraced his dark reputation as the “Angel of Death” counters with a marriage proposal!

Gabe knows Virginia’s family is in dire financial straits—why shouldn’t she marry him and solve both their problems? She claims to be appalled by his proposal, but her response to his kisses says otherwise. So when the two of them begin to unravel the truth behind Roger’s death, Gabe takes the greatest gamble of all, offering the cunning and courageous beauty something more precious than any inheritance: true love.

Click cover for excerpt and more info!

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11) Out November 22 *Book 2 in Blackthorn Brothers series*

Summary:

Meet the Blackthorn Brothers—three unrepentant scoundrels infamous for being mad, bad and perilous to love.

Handsome as the devil and twice as tempting, Robin “Puck” Blackthorn lives for the pleasures of the moment. His only rule—never dally with an innocent woman. But when an encounter at a masquerade ball leaves him coveting the one woman who refuses to succumb to his charms, Puck realizes that some rules were made to be broken….

Scandalized to discover that the masked man with whom she’d shared a dance—and a forbidden embrace—is in fact the ton’s most celebrated rake, Regina Hackett vows to keep her distance. Yet when her cousin vanishes, it is to Puck that Regina must turn. And as they embark on a dangerous journey through London’s darkest alleys, Regina will discover that beneath Puck’s roguish facade lies a man who will stop at nothing to protect her—or to convince her to take a chance on an unrepentant sinner.

Click cover for excerpt and more info!

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12) Out November 29 *Book 5 of The Scandalous Women of the Ton series*

Summary:

Tess Darent’s world is unravelling. Danger threatens her stepchildren and she is about to be unmasked as a radical political cartoonist and thrown into gaol. The only thing that can save her is a respectable marriage. But when it comes to tying the knot Tess requires a very special husband – one who has neither the desire nor the ability to consummate their marriage.

Owen Purchase, Viscount Rothbury cannot resist Tess when she asks for the protection of his name. But he has no intention of making a marriage in name only. Will the handsome sea captain be able to persuade the notorious widow to give her heart as well as her reputation into his safekeeping?

Click cover for excerpt and more info!

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13) Out November 29

Summary:

Lady Christina Fairhaven is devoted to her adoptive family – and most protective of her wayward brother. So when a battle-scarred and world-weary Captain Gavin Briggs arrives at her cottage bearing shocking news – that she is the granddaughter of an aged, bad-tempered duke, Christina is stunned… temporarily.

She will not meet the duke who abandoned her when she was a child; Gavin will not receive his significant – and much needed – reward. However, should the good Captain agree to help her locate and rescue her endangered sibling, then perhaps…

But with a fortune at stake, the road to London is paved with peril. Treachery awaits them… not to mention attraction, temptation, and a most unanticipated passion.

To regain his soul, to protect his lady, Gavin must be more than brave.
To win his love, Christina must be positively… Brazen.

Click cover for excerpt!

***

HAPPY MONTH OF READING!

“Adelaide anticipates an uneventful journey—however, the man sharing her stagecoach has other ideas. Will Adelaide acquiesce to the unusual demands placed upon her by the mysterious stranger? She quickly comes to the realization that Mr. Winters wants not only to dominate her time—but her body as well. Will she have the courage to submit?”

If all goes according to plan it will be available on February 21st! I’m walking on air right now:-)

Published: December 24, 2012

Publisher’s Blurb:

After years of fighting on the continent, Richard Ross has finally returned to London to make peace with his father, and the erotic delights of his stepmother’s Pleasure House provide a welcome distraction for his war-weary heart. But he is shocked to encounter someone there whose resemblance to his lost love leaves him both tempted and tormented…

As a former spy, Violet LeNy has mastered the art of deception. But there is no disguising the heated passion that still burns between her and Richard, the man she once betrayed but who now is her only hope of survival. Soon she plans a scandalous game of seduction where sensual surrender is the ultimate pleasure…

Tags: Romance, Historical, Mystery, Erotic

Time Frame: London, 1827 (Georgian England)

Heat Level: 3

REVIEW RATING : 5 stars

REVIEW BY LEE ANNE:

Simply Scandalous is perfectly scandalous! It’s a wonderful, hot , erotic, historical romance that spans continents and years. I loved every minute of decadence contained in this story.

So, what’s there to love about Simply Scandalous? Well, everything! What does this story not have? It has spies, romance, secrets, kidnapping, inter-racial relationships, brothels, intrigue, conspiracy, bastille survivors, and cross-dressing, just to name a few!

Richard Ross spent years in France as a spy. While he was there, he met and fell in love with a French Spy, Violet LeNy. He watched her die, and with it, his ability to love. Years later, he meets her again, but not as he expected! Violet needs his help, but can he see past the deception and lies she put him through? Will he help her? Or, will her life be forfeit?

I was intrigued by this story from the very beginning. We have a member of the peerage married to a survivor of the French Bastille (doing anything to survive), who once ran a brothel. Now her son runs it! Not only does her son run it, but the rest of the family tends to “hang out” at the Pleasure House. Inside the Pleasure House, anything goes. If you can imagine it, you can find it there!

Emily, Richard’s sister, is in love with Ambrose, an African man who works at the Pleasure House. Richard is accused of loving men and Violet is back from the dead! It just keeps going from there!

Each time we visit the Pleasure House, exquisite pleasures are described in detail and it’s HOT and explicit! In between visits to the house, we have a mystery to solve. Who is killing off the former spies of England? Who is the elusive Mr. Brown? What is Violet hiding? On top of that mystery, we have a mystery surrounding Richard’s father and sister. When will this poor family get a break? I guess it’s true, when it rains, it pours!

All of these problems stem from the problems surrounding the life and times in England in the 1820’s. Marriages were arranged, no matter if they loved each other or not. The French Revolution is over, the after math is still being felt by those that were part of it. England is spying on France and France is spying on England. All of the spying and arranging of people’s lives for God and Country has everlasting affects. And quite often, the sins of the father are visited upon the children.

This is the first book in this series that I’ve read. While I realize I’ve missed some of the backstory on many of the characters, I did not feel lost at any point in time. I will definitely go back to read others in the series!

ABOUT THE REVIEWER:

I am a happily married mother of three very busy children.  Most of my time is spent chauffeuring my kids to their various activities. I cram reading into any spare moment I have. Some days I can have an hour or two and others I’m sneaking in quick reads while waiting on the kids to finish their soccer or gymnastics practice. I like to read a wide variety of genres but I definitely prefer romance. I can’t really pinpoint a favorite author as it changes on a regular basis. I absolutely love finding new authors and giving their stories a chance to be heard. We all have a voice in our heads writing stories and those voices should be given a chance to be heard.

The Bride’s Gambit is available and out in the wild.

Here’s the blurb:

She wants a dashing, courageous man…Vanessa Underhill is on the run from her fifth would-be groom. She doesn’t care for any of the men her father has picked–none engaged her mentally or physically. Hunger for a man who will stir her imagination fires her virginal fantasies.

He wants understanding… When he’s bored with his role as Viscount Blackpool, Collin Northington becomes a highwayman to gain anonymity and solace. With his face scarred fulfilling his military duty in India, he hides behind the brigand mask and persona. What he really desires is a woman who will look beyond outward appearances and take a chance.

If only for one night… In lieu of payment, Collin kidnaps Vanessa from the northern-bound stage. The more time they spend together—and in each other’s arms—the more they find they have in common beyond heated desire. When Collin delivers an impromptu marriage proposal, Vanessa unmasks more than his scarred face, but will his true identity and her penchant for fleeing grooms ruin what could very well be love?

Opportunity threw them together but circumstances might tear them apart.

And a short excerpt:

The next moments ticked by in pregnant silence. She could remain inside and stay safe for a while, or she could go outside into unknown danger and ruin. This was her choice, a step onto a new path. A slow smile parted her lips. It was time to live for herself, to discover who she was outside of her parents’ wishes and home, and damn the consequences. If Papa couldn’t choose a decent man for her, and she’d already proclaimed most dim-witted and uninteresting, maybe she needed an indecent one. She suspected the highwayman could do nicely.

“Thank you, sir.” She slipped her hand into his. The instant his gloved fingers closed around hers, warmth slid upward to her elbow. Heat continued to bloom when she moved to the door and he placed his hands on her waist before lifting her out. For one breath-stealing moment, she was crushed against the hard wall of his chest. “Oh my.” She slid her hands over the wide breadth of his shoulders and past a scarlet waistcoat decorated with black embroidery then her feet found purchase on the road and he released her.

The highwayman secured the door to the carriage. He strode, with a slight limp, to the driver. Not once did he look back at her. In black breeches that hugged every lean line of his thighs and calves and a billowing white shirt, he appeared the consummate mystery villain—and a man who would haunt her womanly dreams. He tossed the coachman a coin and touched the brim of his black hat. “Be sure you take those two straight on to your destination. Don’t return until they disembark, and tell no one what transpired on this road.”

“As you wish, gov’ner.” The driver flicked a glance at Vanessa then just as quickly snapped it back to the road. He slapped leather reins against the horses’ backs and the coach rumbled into motion. A cloud of dust trailed behind it, leaving her with the rogue.

Vanessa swallowed around the sudden lump in her throat. She was alone with a highwayman, on a road far from home, with no one to help her if things turned ugly. Yet, despite the reality, her stomach pitched with excitement. Goose flesh raced over her skin. Never had she felt so alive or filled with so much purpose. She stared at the brigand, whose back was still to her. The wayward ends of his blond hair falling past his collar were tied at his nape with a scrap of leather. “What now, sir? Shall you drag me off into the woods and ravish me without mercy? Have your wicked way in lieu of payment I do not have?”

A wash of heat crept into her face at her effrontery. Where had those thoughts come from, and why did they seem like very good ideas? Did she want him to do such things when not three hours ago, the thought of being in a man’s bed had left her shaking with disgust? She snorted from the absurdity. She didn’t know the answers to any of the questions that had plagued her this evening, but she desperately wanted the option to decide.

As he turned to face her with his hands on his hips, she uttered a soft gasp. The red silk mask he wore covered the upper portion of his face, but his jawline, shadowed with short blond whiskers, and those sensual lips gave her imagination more than enough material to work with.

“Trust me, madam, I have thought about it. Quite frankly, I’m of the mind to do just that merely for the hell of it.” He closed the distance between them by half, and the dust from the road dulled his Hessian boots. “Before we come to an understanding, I’d enjoy a few preliminary niceties like introductions and perhaps a short conversation about where you were headed.”

“It isn’t exactly proper.” She had no prior experience to draw from.

“Yet us making a cake of ourselves in a tangle of limbs here on the main road would be?” He made a show of glancing about the empty, wood-lined road. “Do you see anyone here to guide us through introductions?”

“No.” She bit her bottom lip.

“Very well.” The beginnings of a grin softened his face. “My name is Collin. You do not need to know my surname at this time.”

“The Honorable Miss Vanessa Underhill.” Should she curtsey? Offer her hand? What did one do when making introductions to a brigand?

“Ah.” Recognition sprang into his dark brown eyes. “The troublesome would-be bride from Farnham.” He took a few steps closer. “Then, you must be running from yet another ill-advised nuptial union.”

You can buy The Bride’s Gambit at Amazon and also at All Romance ebooks. Just click on the embedded links.

I hope you’ll pick up this book. It would be a terrific way to help you relax during the hectic holiday season!

Also, today I’m over at Books-n-Kisses talking about it and giving away a Starbucks gift card.

Plus, there’s still time to visit me over at Lady Scribes. Comment to win a pretty bookmark over there.

BLURB: LET ME BE YOUR FANTASY MAN … FOR AS LONG AS THE STORM LASTS.

Lady Abigail Wynfred escapes to a seaside cottage to bid her dreams farewell before marrying a staid English lord to please her family. Colonel Robert Coally convalesces in a nearby cottage to recuperate from a battle wound before returning to the Boer Wars. When a storm strikes, Robert takes refuge with Abigail. He has seen too much death. She has experienced too much loneliness. They vow to fulfill each others fantasies until the storm ends. But passion, they discover, is as unpredictable and life-altering as the elements …

RHL Classifications

Late Victorian Era

Historical Romance

Heat level 3 (Erotic)

Review rating 5 stars/top pick

 Review by Emery

While I am not a big fan of “erotica” per se, I do enjoy  erotic  romance, especially in a historical setting. I do, however, hold these stories to the same standard I set for anything else I read -  the story must be well written, well researched, and emotionally compelling.  Robin Schone strikes this perfect balance where many other erotic romances fail. I found this story  emotionally riveting from the very start. The opening scene:

Rage.

It filled the storm, pounding and striking the night sky. it filled the stranger, fueling and stoking a burning lust.

For a woman.

A woman who knew more of life than surviving one day at a time.

A woman with kindness and passion.

A woman who would share with him her soul as well as her body.

A woman who, perhaps, could give him back his own soul.

Similar to The Lady’s Tutor, the first Schone title I ever read, the author addresses the sexual repression of women in the Victorian era, and heroines who secretly balk the society that imprisons them in order to know intimacy and sexual passion.

In A Lady’s Pleasure, the heroine, Lady Abigail Wynfred, is a virgin spinster who secretly reads erotica to compensate for her lackluster life. She is also fast approaching her thirtieth birthday and has given up on any hope of finding the passionate love she still craves. Resigned to accept a loveless society marriage rather than none at all, she takes a vacation to an isolated seaside cottage to mourn her dreams before burying them altogether.

Colonel Robert Coally has spent twenty two of his thirty five years killing. Although long battle hardened, he now fears for his own mortality after being wounded. While convalescing at a remote seaside cottage, he realizes he has never truly known a woman’s passion, something he desperately wishes to experience before he dies. Fate, in the form of a violent storm, sends him seeking refuge at Abigail’s cottage, where in one night, these two unhappy souls find the balm they most need in one another. The sexual encounters are explicit and erotic but also romantic and essential to the characters’ respective journeys.

Highly recommended for those seeking a beautifully written, emotionally satisfying, and super steamy read.

This title is currently available in e-book for $2.99

*Image from author’s website*

A BLUESTOCKING CHRISTMAS

MONICA BURNS

http://www.monicaburns.com

Genre: Erotic Historical romance (Regency)(Holiday)

Source: Personal buy.

ASIN: B00A7EQ0LW

Book Description(from Amazon)

eBook
B&N | Amazon | ARe | Smashwords | Kobo | iTunes

MY THOUGHTS:

A BLUESTOCKING CHRISTMAS by Monica Burns is an exciting Regency erotic historical romance set in 1892 England. A Charles Dickens Christmas with a twist. The ghost of Simon, Viscount Wycombe who is not dead visits Ivy Beecham to show her want could happen if she does not surrender to her passion and the greatest gift of all. Filled with passion,childhood memories,lust,romance,a misunderstanding or two,secrets and love. Ivy has concluded her affair with Simon,but is she willing to lose the love of her life over a misunderstanding? The ghost of Simon must show her the error of her way or lose Simon forever. If you want a fast paced,quick Christmas read than “A Bluestocking Christmas” is the read for you. I loved “A Bluestocking Christmas”. Ms. Burns captures the Christmas spirit,the Dickens story with a new twist,pulls the reader into her story and leaves you spellbound. A must! Personal buy. For more details visit the author’s website,or My Book Addiction and More.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: HOT/SIZZLING

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews

BUG-IN WITH ROMANCE BLOG EVENT – Yes, you are in the right place.

Earthquake, flood, tsunami, alien invasion. What do all these things have in common? Our sense of survival. We all have it ingrained into our beings. But what has been done about integrating the more modern conveniences like:

Toilet Paper?

First let’s tear off a bit of history of something that, let’s face it, we all take for granted every day.

 - Rumor has it that in late 14th Century, Chinese emperors used 2-foot x 3-foot sheets. The material isn’t specified, although I would venture to guess that they used silk.
 - The ancient Greeks used stones and pieces of clay.
 - Ancient Romans used sponges on the ends of sticks, kept in jugs filled with salty water.
Middle easterners commonly used the left hand.
 - In the American old west, it is said that corncobs and pages torn from newspapers and catalogs were commonly used.
 - In 1857, a man named Joseph C. Gayetty of New York started producing the first packaged toilet paper. It consisted of pre-moistened flat sheets medicated with aloe and was named “Gayetty’s Medicated Paper.”
 - Rolled and perforated toilet paper as we’re familiar with today was invented around 1880, although early paper production techniques sometimes left splinters embedded in the paper. (Ouch!)
 - In 1935, Northern Tissue advertised “splinter-free” toilet paper.
 - In 1942, St. Andrew’s Paper Mill in Great Britain introduced two-ply toilet paper.

America experienced its first toilet paper shortage in 1973.
 
I don’t know about you, but I could not stomach any of the above ancient substitutes for toilet paper. So when the end of the world begins on Dec 21 this year ( ) with what will you wipe your bottom?

I’d say it’s time to stock op on the TP! (in Ziploc baggies would be your best bet in case of flooding.) When everyone else is shopping for canned goods, I predict they will forget about modern necessities like TP. Once you’ve cornered the market on those lovely little soft white squares, you may be able to use them as currency. You never know!

This has been a tongue-in-cheek message from historical romance author, Genella deGrey.

CONTEST! If you leave a comment AND like my facebook page, Genella deGrey Books, you will be entered into a drawing to win an e-copy (or print if you prefer) of Genella deGrey’s, “Oasis of Eden.” Winner will be chosen on December 22, 2012!

Next in the BUG-IN WITH ROMANCE Blog Event: Holly Roberts’ Multi-purpose Bug-out bag: The BDSM emergency 48-hour pack – all the things you can use for sex, torture, and also survival.  Find it on November 26th at:  http://www.clubeldiablo.blogspot.com

The Angel’s Assassin

A medieval story of love and betrayal.

As a rebellion sweeps England, Lady Annabel finds her home overrun by rebels. Much to her relief, a dark knight comes to her rescue, claiming to have been sent to protect her by her uncle.

But Nicholas holds a secret about the job he was sent to do and it is a far cry from what Annabel believes it to be. As the attraction between them grows, Nicholas begins to question the dark life he has lived. But is it enough to change him and will Annabel ever trust again after learning the true nature of his sinful duty?

• Amazon (US) – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00989J3PM
• Amazon (UK) – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00989J3PM
• YouTube (trailer) - http://youtu.be/lhzZ3pu3eMQ

Excerpt

He ran. Aware only of the need to keep her safe, he sprinted until his thighs burned and his arms ached from her weight. Not that she was a heavy burden, for she lay limply in his arms, only the faint throb of a pulse assuring him that she was still alive. She wore just her chemise and it had taken a while for him to notice, his fear stricken mind consumed with other thoughts. When he had finally noticed, he wrapped her tightly in his mantle.

Continuing on, even as the dark of the following night consumed them, he narrowly avoided tripping and spilling her onto the ground. Only his resolution to keep her from harm prevented him from giving up as he stumbled across the uneven terrain, lit by little more than a half moon.

Nicholas’ steps faltered as the exertion took his toll and he was forced to a sluggish pace, his body screaming for respite. As the sun began to flicker over the horizon, it hurt his eyes, in spite of the cloud amassing in the sky. Fearing a downpour, he staggered his way into the protection of the nearest forest, unsure now of where they were.

The forest closed about them but his anxiety refused to wane. Why were they trying to kill her? If Lord Benedict had intended to kill Annabel himself then why go about this charade of hiring him? Nicholas could not fathom what he was trying to achieve. He couldn’t have possibly known that Nicholas would never go through with his sinful duty.

His legs began to shake as his lungs throbbed, but a look to Annabel’s soot covered face fortified him and he forced his legs to do the unthinkable.

Continue on.

He had to gain some distance between them and Godfrey. He was undoubtedly on horseback but he thought it likely he would not have risked journeying at night. Nicholas had little idea as to what to do next, but he resolved to keep pushing forwards until exhaustion claimed him.

After a day and a half of no rest, it finally did. He stumbled one final time and realised that it was unlikely he would recover again should he fall once more. Annabel lay peacefully in his arms and he did not want to risk hurting her. Pressing his back against a broad oak tree, he sank gratefully to the ground, Annabel still stretched across his arms.

His head slumped back against the bark and he shifted her head against his chest, settling her into his lap. His arms closed in around her, determined that even in sleep he would protect her. His leaden eyelids dropped and sleep quickly claimed him as his hands remained gripped around Annabel.

• Amazon (US) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00989J3PM
• Amazon (UK) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00989J3PM
• YouTube (trailer) - http://youtu.be/lhzZ3pu3eMQ

Samantha Holt

Samantha Holt resides in Warwickshire, England, with her twin girls, having followed her soldier husband around the UK for nearly 10 years. Growing up in Hampshire, she was inspired by the authors Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, both of which lived and wrote only miles from her home town.

Samantha loves the romance genre and has been devouring romantic literature for as long as she can remember. History is another passion of hers and she loves to combine her love for history and romance into exciting and passionate tales.

Contact Samantha at:

• Website – http://www.samanthaholt.org.uk
• Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/romanticfiction
• Blog – http://www.samanthaholtauthor.blogspot.co.uk

Giveaway

Samantha is offering a tour-wide giveaway. To enter to win one of five ebook copies, please click here. And be sure to follow the tour for interviews, guest blogs, and other excerpts of THE ANGEL’S ASSASSIN. The full schedule can be found here. Thanks so much for your visit, and good luck!

PUBLISHER’S BLURB:

When charm and persuasion fail…Only seduction remains…On the night of her betrothal, Lydia Trent receives just a taste of what ecstasy will be at the hands of her fiancé…and then he leaves her wanting. After waiting six years, and tired of being neglected by her exceedingly reluctant husband-to-be, Lydia decides to break it off. When Marcus, Lord Russell, receives Lydia’s letter requesting a release from their contract, he is stunned by her audacity. Confident he’ll have her eating out of his hand with his usual wit and charm, he’s determined to repair the damage. However, the headstrong woman she’s blossomed into is equally determined to thwart his every effort to win her back. Marcus discovers, in spite of her conviction to end the union, Lydia is more responsive to his touch than he ever imagined. He just needs to get her alone to unleash the promised passion he sees within his wanton virgin. Marcus will use any tool in his arsenal to exploit her weakness–his kisses, his hands, his mouth…her own body. In short, he’ll just have to ruin her!

RHFL CLASSIFICATIONS:

Sub-genre: Historical Romance Novella

Era: Georgian

Heat: 3 

REVIEW RATING: 4.5 stars

REVIEWED BY : Jill

Lydia Albinia Trent at seventeen is on the cusp of womanhood. Her engagement to Marcus, Lord Russell formalises the arrangement made between their mothers when they were children. The betrothal suits Marcus well enough as it will enable him to progress with his political and diplomatic aspirations, at the same time freeing him from any tiresome match-making endeavors. And besides, Lydia is perfect – pretty, dowered and malleable.

Six years later Lydia, tired of waiting for Marcus to return from his overseas appointment and finally wed her, informs him she wishes to break the engagement. But the prospect of losing Lydia’s dowry and wooing another sees Marcus determined to change Lydia’s mind. However the Lydia Marcus meets is no longer the child-woman he knew six years ago. Lydia is now educated, forthright and all grown-up. Winning back Lydia’s hand may also involve having to win her heart.

This story was quite the surprise. With erotic historical romance you don’t really expect much in the way of deep plot and characterisations, the emphasis being much more on the sex scenes. Let alone one rich in historical detail. But this short story delivered much more than the expected sex-fest. Set in the Georgian era with the background of the peace congress of 1748, author Victoria Vane has delivered a story with historical richness yet one that does not overwhelm the romance nor the delectable love scenes.

This beautifully written novella has it all. Historical depth, romance, lush love scenes and gorgeous prose befitting the era. Highly recommended.

$4.31 (Kindle) at Amazon

Published: June 13, 2012

Publisher’s Blurb:

He should never have kissed her…

Laird Connor MacLauchlan doesn’t want a wife, but he finds his Berserker mate in the heat of battle. Though he fears for her safety from the darkness that lurks inside him, fate dictates he must take her and make her his…

She was meant to be his enemy’s bride…

Noble beauty Lindsay Ross has been sold to the highest bidder. On her way to meet her vile betrothed, a savage and mythic warrior slaughters her entire vanguard. Now she’s his captive and he seems determined to claim her body for his own. Connor promises to keep her safe from the evil warlord she was to marry, but who will protect her from him?

Tags: Romance, Historical, Highlander, Paranormal, Short-Story

Time Frame: Scottish Highlands, August, 1411

Heat Level: 2.5

REVIEW RATING : 4 stars

REVIEW BY LEE ANNE:

Connor was supposed to kill the tyrannical laird MacKay in order to free those people from tyranny and fear. Instead he ended up finding his mate in Lindsay Ross. Connor never wanted a mate, but his berserker claimed Lindsay the instant he saw her.  Now he just has to convince her to accept him.

Lindsay is a formidable heroine. She refuses to simply accept her fate and decides to orchestrate her own outcome. She’s strong and independent in a time when women were nothing more than chattel to be bartered to advancement of men. She does this without being a shrew. Connor is an alpha male who is the laird of  his clan. He’s accepted his berserker and has no plans for a mate. He’s stubborn and in typical male fashion, doesn’t understand women!

From their very first encounter, their passion burned hot. Lindsay and Connor would never be the same. Connor’s berserker claimed Lindsay but how will Connor get Lindsay to claim him and his berserker.

Kerrigan Byrne weaves a fantastic story filled with romance, magic, and passion. This is the second book in the Highland Historical Romance and it’s every bit as good as the first one! I’m hoping she will continue with this series or possibly write other highlander stories.

 Unwilling is currently available at Amazon for $2.99.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER:

I am a happily married mother of three very busy children.  Most of my time is spent chauffeuring my kids to their various activities. I cram reading into any spare moment I have. Some days I can have an hour or two and others I’m sneaking in quick reads while waiting on the kids to finish their soccer or gymnastics practice. I like to read a wide variety of genres but I definitely prefer romance. I can’t really pinpoint a favorite author as it changes on a regular basis. I absolutely love finding new authors and giving their stories a chance to be heard. We all have a voice in our heads writing stories and those voices should be given a chance to be heard.