To Desire A Devil
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Vision (October 27, 2009)
Received From: Anne at Hatchett for Blog Tour

My Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:
This is the fourth and final book in the Legend of the Four Soldiers, and even though I had not read the other books in this series I was able to follow along and not be too terribly confused. Even though I say I have not read the other books in this series, I have paged through them. I own a copy of To Beguile a Beast, but was not able to get into it when I started reading it.

Beatrice is in love with a man from a painting.The only thing is that he has been missing for several years and is presumed dead. When he comes crashing into her Uncle's political tea party, demanding to know where his father is, it sets tongues wagging.

Reynaud enters what is supposed to be his house, only to find it full of people he does't really recognize. While he was missing his title, land and house were handed over to Beatrice's uncle. Mad with fever, Reynaud collapses ontop of a table. Beatrice gets excited when this man came crashing into the political tea party, because he looked a lot like the gentleman from the painting.

From there Beatrice's life changes. She gets put in all sorts of difficult situations. She gets shot at and stabbed, all the while trying to figure out what it is about this savage man that exictes her so.

For me this book was actually pretty good. It wasn't one of those OH MY GOD I can't put it down types, but it wasn't one of the 'this is dragging on forever types' either. It moved at a very good pace, and all the ends that were opened in this book were tied together nicely by the ending.

I liked how while yes there was the villian in this book, there really wasn't much harming Beatrice's and Reyaud's relationship other than themselves. Their relationship seemed to grow naturally and while yes it was a bit rushed, it seemed to work.

One thing that did kind of throw me off while reading it however, was the rather random love scene. I understand that Reyaud had been kept in the presence of what are termed, savages, and that he really didn't care too much for what was proper and the like. But he compromises Beatrice before they are married. And to me it just seemed to be an awkward place for it to happen. Especially because the first time that him and Beatrice make love, it is right after Beatrice gets some rather bad news.

There are several characters that if there aren't stories about already, I would love to read more about. All of the characters in this book seemed to really have a presence. I'm going to go back and read the other books in this series now that I have finished this one.

The book trailer for this book, is really what made me want to read it, allow me to share it with you all.






Excerpt: Found at the authors website HERE

Highland Dragon
Author: Kimberly Killion
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Zebra Books  (October 1, 2009)
Received From: Author - for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
First, I'd like to thank Kimberly Killion for sending me a printout of this book. Now onto the review!

It took me a little bit to get into this book, in fact there were several times when I put the book down after only reading a few pages. However, after the first chapter or so I really got into it and I am glad I did.

At the age of 10,  Calin MacLeod had followed his father at the age of 10 and witnessed the most unspeakable acts. witnessed his father's death by the Laird of Clan Kinnon. He also saved a babys life that day, and vowed to protect her.

Akira was the babe he had saved, she grew up with some of the Kinnon kin. She knew she had a benefactor somewhere, that would marry her some day and for that she kept herself pure. When she was kidnapped by two MacLeod warriors, she feared she would never get to meet her kind benefactor.

When I first read that Akira had been captured by two MacLeod warriors, I had to go back and re-read the first few pages. I had already connected the dots that Akira was the baby that Calin had saved, but I couldn't fathom as to why he would want her to be captured. The meeting between Akira and Calin had me smiling, not because it was a pleasant meeting, but because it was such an unusual meeting.

Of course Calin and Akira are married, and like all married couples have their differences. One thing that really stuck out to me though, was that the two characters while both bull headed, were obviously in love with one another. There is a cute scene right before they are married where Akira climbs a tree and Calin grants her boons (requests) for their marriage. That whole scene left me going SQUEE!

Of course, like I said all married couples have their differences and when Akira meets Calin's ex-mistress, Catriona, she feels betrayed. Honestly, once Catrioina and Akira met, I thought it was going to be the same ol' song and dance that many novels of this genre seem to adhere too. Husband falls in love with wife, bitter mistress ruins it all by causing wife to leave husband for some stupid reason. Husband then thinks that wife hates him/never loved him and then seeks solace with the mistress, after a bit husband then realizes that the mistress was the reason wife left in the first place. So then he goes after the wife to make her fall in love with him all over again, and eventually they all live happily ever after. But, it was not the case in Killion's Highland Dragon, when Akira meets Catriona she pretty much tells her to go to hell, (Which by the way was one of my favorite parts) and then confronts Calin about the whole situation. The whole time I sat there and was like YES! YES! YES! YOU GO GIRL!

There was one thing about the whole story that really threw me off. When Calin had saved Akira as a baby, he had placed a brand on her behind. It's because of that brand that Akira believed she was a witch. There were a few characters who mentioned the fact that Akira was a witch, when they couldn't possibly have known about the brand, unless the brand was very public knowledge in which case how come more people didn't mention it?


The ending was also very unique. Of course it was going to end up happy, but it was twist that made it end up happy that really pulled the ending together.

The characters were all very vivid. I found myself dispisng Catronia and then actually kind of liking her after she showed her human side. I am half in love with Akira's brother Kendrick. I would love to read his story. Heck, I'd love to read another story set in this same universe. There were several characters who could possibly have their own story, I know I'd want to read it.

I would happily recommend this book to anyone who likes romance. I cannot wait to pick up another of Kimberly Killon's novels.

Book Trailer:
As if this review isn't already long enough (LOL!) I found a book trailer for this novel and decided I should share it with my readers.





NOTE: This review was not influenced by the fact that the author sent me the book. Nor did I recieve any kind of compensation for the positive review.

Lily and the Major
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Softcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket (December 1, 1990)

Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

This is my first book review entry ever, let alone as a guest to Jess' blog. Please bear with me :). Thanks!

Jess had me read Lily and the Major by Linda Lael Miller. As much as she told me she ripped it apart, I did not hate the book. I am new to the romance genre. The lovin' did not start until page 100 exactly (note: she told me chapter two... this was definitely not chapter two) and had it's good steamy moments after that (why else would I read romance? lol). Jess said that she didn't like Lily, I do not like her lover Caleb. He kept bringing her up, then ignoring her and bringing her back down, so she kept being the self-efficient, strong, stubborn woman she always had to be. Again, I blame Caleb for showing her "how it's like to be a woman" and then ignoring her like she's no one.

I do however have my favorite lines of the book for cheesiness and "I can't believe she wrote it" factor:

"Lily, listen to me. I've got feelings for you that I've never had for anyone else. Ever."
Her hadns were drawn to his shoulders, where they rested lightly. "Buy why? Why me, Caleb?"
He kissed her lips lightly. "Because you're beautiful - because you're strong - because somewhere, sometime, an angel wrote our names in a book. I don't know why, Lily. And they why of it doesn't matter."

Page 121

That excerpt made me laugh for five minutes straight and I had to read it to everyone I told because it was that much BS in that little bit of space. If a guy told me something like that, I would laugh hysterically and leave him.

"Oh, my God," Lily gasped, clutching the edge of the bureau in both hands.
"It's a religious experience for me, too," Caleb commented.

Page 346

Again, I was a cluster of laughter.

The ending was quick and for me cut off at the ankles. She's been looking for her sisters through the whole book. They were sent on an orphan train when they were little cause their mom fell in love with someone in the military that didn't want kids, and separated. And in the end, it just kinda falls off. Jess says there's two other books and that's why, I say dammit just finish a book.

It wasn't terrible, it had it's funny moments. I would read it again and hope to find the others.

Lily and the Major
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Softcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket (December 1, 1990)

My Rating: 2 out of 5

Summary

Lily has strong dislike for anyone in the military. After all, it was the military, or rather someone in the military, that made her mother give her up Lily and her sisters.

When Major Caleb Halliday rescued Lily from some rather rowdy soldiers she thought that she would be rid of him. However Major Halliday had other plans. He began a seduction so strong, that Lily was helpless to resist him.

Okay, so this book was a pretty quick read. And some of the scenes between Lily and Caleb ... super hot. But there was something missing. Maybe it was the way Lily acted more like a modern woman than she should have, or maybe it was just that it seemed every 3 pages Lily and Caleb were falling into bed, or over a horse, or in a corner. It seemed like the sex was there strictly for the sex. To me it felt like oh Lily and Caleb are fighting again and then within seconds they had their clothes off and were tearing at each other.

I will finish reading the series, mainly because I don't like to start something and not finish it, but I will not be keeping this book in my collection. It simply wasn't for me.

I'd recommend it to others who like Western Historical Romances, but would do so with a warning.

If you've read this book, please leave me a comment and tell me what you think. I'm very interested in knowing what others thought of this book, especially because I didn't care for it much. Maybe I missed something.

Secret Desires of A Gentleman
Author: Laura Lee Guhrke
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (September 30, 2008)

My Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:
My only issue with this book is that for a historical romance Maria seemed a little too modern. Other than that this book fit right in with the Girl Bachlor series by Laura Lee Guhrke. Quick page turner that had enough romance and drama to keep it going, without it being too over the top.

Maria is so much closer to finally achieving her dream of owning her own pastry shop, when she finds out that Phillip Hawthorne, the man who prevented her from marrying her love twelve years later, has a chance to ruin her life.

There were some pretty steamy sessions between Maria and Phillip in the book. I also found myself really liking Phillip, but I blame that on the fact that I just love the name Phillip for a guy. Because in reality at least in this book, Phillip was kind of cruel. There are some parts where I wanted to smack him upside his head and ask him what he was doing.

Overall though good read. I wouldn't read this one again, but I'm planning on buying anyway to complete out my collection of this series.

The author has an expert up on her website HERE

A Hint of Wicked
Author: Jennifer Haymore
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (June 2009)

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Summary:
First of all let me say that this book was a hot read. I'm talking super steamy. The waves of tension, both sexual and normal that radiated from these characters really could have lit something on fire. While I read this book, I laughed, I cried, I threw things.

Sophie is an amazing heroine. Head strong and dependable. She loves her man ... er men. When she finds out that Garrett is dead, it breaks her. I wish that we could have seen more of how finding out about his death had changed her. Later in the book it comes to light that she had married Tristan. This threw me for a loop when I first read it, I had to go back and re-read the beginning to make sure I didn't miss anything.

That being said, both Garrett and Tristan were pretty awesome themselves. I felt that most times Garrett was a bit too harsh, and too stubborn and honestly for the most part acted like a petulant child. Tristan was extremely loyal, and if he had not stood up for himself and fought back, I almost would have labeled him a door mat. In the end though, he redeems himself. (Ohh mysterious!)

The bad guy in this novel was kind of confusing, but once I realized that I was reading too much into him, he instantly became much easier to understand. I would like to see him make an appearance later on in this series.

Overall a great read. Something I would recommend to anyone who wants a little steam in their life, or is looking for a fast paced romance.

An Expert can be found: On the Author's website, or by clicking HERE

The Abduction of Julia
Author: Karen Hawkins
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Avon (April 1, 2000)

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:
Julia is known as the Frant Dragon, she is her cousin's chaperon and is a strict reformist. It's something that wasn't really explained. Throughout the book there are parts where her past is talked about but nothing is ever said or anything. It did make me wonder why she was fighting so hard for the Society.

Alec is a rake, he gambles, boozes and sexes a little too freely. He has to marry, and do it before his birthday in order to recieve the inheritance from his grandfather, and save it from his cousin Nick. The only thing that confused me about that was that in the beginning of the book it was said that his grandfather thought he was a bad seed, but later it comes out that him and his grandfather had a close relationship. A little bit of a WTF moment.

When the two of them finally got together and realized that they were ment for one another, I was so happy. The path their relationship took was a bit weird, but altogether it worked. There was a part where I was actually crying along with Julia, because of things that Alec had said to her.

The supporting characters were pretty funny as well. Lucian is someone who I would love to have a story for. He was a pretty awesome supporting character, and of course Aunt Maddie who was just harebrained. I imagined her as the character Kathy Bates played in Titanic.

Overall a very quick read. Something that wasn't overly sexual and I would feel comfortable recommending to my grandma.

Excerpt after the cut:
The mantel clock chimed the quarter hour and the viscount stared at it as if transfixed. “Damn, damn, damn.” Scowling, he downed his drink in one swift motion.

She lifted her brows in disapproval. “Whatever is bothering you, imbibing that lethal concoction won’t help.

Imbibing that lethal concoction won’t help.”

“Nothing can help now,” he said with a faint sneer. “Thanks to your minx of a cousin.

Julia sniffed and he laughed, pouring another tumbler of punch. He crossed the room and held it toward her. The faint aroma of nutmeg and cinnamon made her stomach grumble eagerly, but she shook her head.

Amusement curved his mouth. “A prude, Miss Frant?

“No. I can’t hold my drink. It’s a curse of the family, you know.”

“An excellent reason, then, to drink more.”

Without giving her time to remonstrate, he pushed the tumbler into her hand. Her fingers curled around the warmed metal and she welcomed the curls of steam that rose to tickle her nose. She would just hold it until it cooled and then she would set it on the table. Surely there was no harm in that.

The viscount sank into the chair opposite hers and stretched his legs toward the weak embers. A blackness hung about him that Julia had never witnessed. And she’d had many opportunities to observe the dashing and dissolute viscount. More than he would ever know.

“I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s happened,” she stated firmly.

His gaze dropped to his tumbler and he stared into it as if seeking answers. “There’s not much to tell.”

Her heart ached at the darkness she saw reflected in his face. “I might be able to help. Two heads are better than one.”

He regarded her thoughtfully, then shrugged. “Why not? I have all the time in the world now.” He leaned his head against the high back of his chair and sighed. “My grandfather was determined to prove the error of my ways.”

Apparently the viscount’s grandfather was a man of some intelligence, Julia thought approvingly.

As if reading her thoughts, the viscount’s silver eyes glinted. “You may not know this, but some call me wicked.”

“Among other things.” At his astonished expression, she hurried to add, “Of course, it’s probably all untrue.”

The viscount chuckled. “Unfortunately, it’s probably much too true.” His amusement faded. “All of us, his children and his grandchildren, were a disappointment to my grandfather.”

“Surely you are being overly harsh.”

“Am I? Grandfather turned my uncle out without a penny for marrying a woman who had . . .” His gaze flickered over her. “Shall we just say she had unusual appetites?”

“Oh,” said Julia, wondering what that meant. She caught the dark gleam in his eye and hastily asked, “And your mother?”

“My mother fancied herself in love with an impecunious Scotsman who possessed no land, no money, nothing more than tenuous claim to a dubious title. She eloped.”

"She must have been deeply in love.”

He scowled. “She was seventeen and wild to a fault. When she disappeared, Grandfather was devastated. He searched everywhere. He finally found them, living in a state of poverty that defies description.” His gaze dropped to the sputtering fire. “My parents died shortly afterwards.”

“So your grandfather raised you.”

“Yes. Six months ago he died and left me his fortune. My cousin Nick inherited the title and the estate, though it is heavily tied up. He cannot sell it except to a member of the family.” Alec’s mouth thinned. “Grandfather knew my cousin too well to leave it unprotected.”

Julia wrapped her hands more securely about her mug. “What does all of this have to do with Therese?”

“In order to inherit the fortune, I have to marry before my next birthday and live in society for a year completely without scandal.” His mouth curved in a self-derisive smile. “Grandfather feared I was too wild and restless.”

“He probably heard about your lightskirts,” Julia said, breathing in the spicy steam from her own cup.

“Lightskirts?” he choked.

“Or the gambling,” she said with a helpful nod.

A crooked grin tugged at his mouth. “You seem to be up on all of the gossip, Miss Frant.”

“There’s little else to do sitting with the other chaperones. How much time do you have left?”

The viscount glanced at the clock. “Less than two hours.”

She blinked at him. “Two hours? And just how long have you known of the conditions of your grandfather’s will?”

“Since the day after he died.”

“But that was six months ago!”

“I kept hoping that something would happen to stave off this nightmare.” He ran a hand through his black hair, one lock dropping back across his forehead. “But nothing did.”

Julia curled her hands tightly about the mug to keep from reaching over and smoothing his hair back into place. “May I ask why you chose Therese?”

“The will is very specific. I am to marry the daughter of the late earl of Covington if I wish to gain the fortune.” His mouth curved into a faint smile. “Grandfather was certain marriage would settle my unfortunate tendencies.”

“He must not have known my cousin,” remarked Julia.

His eyes gleamed with amusement as he chuckled. “He didn’t. The Covington lands march ours and the earl had a marriageable daughter. For Grandfather, it was more than enough.”

Julia tried to suppress the relief she felt at the news that the handsome viscount had not been head over heels in love with Therese. “Who inherits the money if you don’t?”

“My cousin, Nick Montrose.”

“The new earl of Bridgeton? He’s been whispering to Therese a lot lately.” She frowned, catching herself just before she took a sip of the punch. “It wouldn’t surprise me if they were in it together. Forgive me for saying this, but Therese has always wanted to be a countess and your title, while very nice, cannot compare to an earl’s.”

Alec slammed his fist onto the arm of his chair with such force, Julia started. “Damn them!” he snarled. “May they rot in hell for playing such a trick!” He cursed again and tossed back the remainder of his drink as if it were water.

Julia winced. If he became drunk, no mere kick in the shins would recall him to a sense of propriety. And empty the bowl he would, unless she did something. She lifted the mug and took a deep breath, the scent of cinnamon and cloves making her stomach rumble anew. The warm, spicy wisps of steam beckoned.

She would just drink this one cup. If nothing else, it would be one less cup he would devour. That decided, Julia took a large gulp. The rum spiraled through her and warmed her from head to toe in one delicious swirl. “My, my.”

The viscount roused himself long enough to watch her take another sip. “Careful. It’s stronger than it seems.”

“I am no sheltered child, Lord Hunterston. I am very aware of the indelicacies of life.”

“I’m sure you are,” he said with a faint sneer. “You probably know every soiled dove in London.”

She pointedly ignored his sarcastic tone and took a defiant sip. “I know a few. The Society for Wayward Women has—”

“Good God!” he said, revolted. “You’re a reformer!”

“Call it what you like. I work to better the position of those who are afflicted by the cruel hand of poverty.”

“And what, Miss Frant, do you know of poverty?”

She gripped the mug with both hands. In the dark days following the deaths of her parents, Julia had come face to face with the realities of being a woman alone with no way to earn a living. The memory still twisted her stomach into a thousand knots, yet she managed to answer evenly, “I know enough to wish to see it ended.”

He laughed, the sound jarring in the small room. “We make a lovely pair, don’t we, Miss Frant? You, dying to help others but without the money to make a real difference and me, dying to help myself, yet with no more success.”

She hid her hurt behind a shrug. “I do what I can.” She looked down at her mug and wondered what had become of the rest of her punch. There was barely a mouthful left. She peered at the bottom of the mug to see if it had a leak, but could detect nothing. Reluctantly, she turned her attention back to the viscount. “Have you seen a solicitor?”

“Dozens of them, the damned leeches.” With a bitter smile, Alec rose and refilled both their tumblers. “It is over. I played the game and lost.”

His fingers brushed hers when he handed her the mug. Julia could feel the warmth of his hand through her thin gloves, the touch leaving her yearning for more.

To steady her erratic heart, she took a deep drink. Immensely fortified, she felt as if she could solve every problem. No wonder her father had been so adamant about the medicinal properties of rum. She wondered if anyone had ever thought to bottle it.

“There must be a way ‘round this,” she announced loudly.

This time his laugh had a touch of genuine humor. “Do all Americans believe they can work miracles, Miss Frant?”

“I was raised to value candor and hard work, Lord Hunterston.”

“You are a complete contrast to Therese, aren’t you?” He leaned a broad shoulder against the mantel, his eyes twinkling a silvery gray.

Julia looked down at her overly large feet with a twinge of regret. “Yes, a complete contrast.” There were few things she envied her beautiful cousin, and the questionable attentions of the most notorious rake in London should not have been one of them. But there had always been something, a certain glimmer in his reckless smile, a certain wistfulness in his glance, that made her yearn to know more about him.

As if aware of her thoughts, he sighed. “We should return to London.”

His words brought a moment of panic. She knew that once they left the enchanted confines of the parlor, things would return to normal. He would become the unapproachable, faintly dangerous Devil Hunterston, while she once again faded to obscurity as a lowly chaperone.

Hastily, she downed the few sips left in her mug. “I need more punch.”

A surprised quirk lifted the corner of the viscount’s mouth, but he agreed. “After today, I may not be able to afford such luxury.” He walked to the table, pulled out a bench and offered a graceful bow. “Will you join me, Miss Frant?”

She stood, noting that the room had taken on a swirling quality that made it difficult to navigate. Fortunately she managed to make it without tripping over any of the wavering furniture. She sat beside him and held out her mug.

He refilled both tumblers. “We’ll have to get more punch.” He pushed her mug across the table and reached toward the empty bowl.

A rustling noise halted him and he frowned, removing a crumpled paper from his coat and tossing it on the table. “I won’t need this now.”

Julia rested her chin on the edge of her mug and breathed in the spicy sweetness. A warm glow settled around her and the small parlor became cozier and more intimate. She squinted unabashedly at the viscount’s profile, noting the length of his lashes and the proud curve of his mouth.

He looked up and caught her gaze. For a split second she couldn’t breathe. Then she found herself adjusting her spectacles and blindly reaching for the paper. “It’s a Special License,” she said stupidly.

Alec nodded, returning his preoccupied gaze to his empty mug.

The license was dog-eared and crumpled with his name scrawled elegantly across the bottom. “Alec Charles MacLean, Viscount Hunterston,” Julia mouthed silently.

She sipped her drink. It was, she decided, even sweeter when taken from the bottom of the bowl. The innkeeper must have forgotten to stir. She swished the punch about her mouth, her idle gaze falling back on the paper. “You didn’t finish filling it out.’”

“I didn’t have time to stop and ask her entire Christian name, so I just wrote ‘Miss Frant.’” The viscount shrugged. “It served. The Archbishop did not question it.”

Julia waited for him to say more, but he returned to his own dark reflections, his attention sliding away from Julia all too easily. She sighed and pulled her mug across the crumpled license. Maybe the heat from the warmed metal would iron it out.

Her father had always taught her the importance of neatness. She smiled wistfully at the thought. Though he had died over five years ago, she thought of him daily. She especially missed his ability to see right to the center of the most difficult situation and point out the one, logical answer. It always angered Julia when Therese sneered at her father. It was true he had left England and ignored the position his father had wished for him, but he had acted with the purest, most noble of intentions. He had acted for love.

Love. An idea slipped into her head with an almost audible thunk.

“I know how to help you,” she said wonderingly.

Alec lifted his brows, his eyes the color of frosted glass. “How?”

“Simple. Marry me.”

Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace
Author: Kate Emerson
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Pocket (February 3, 2009)

From the back of the book:
Beautiful. Seductive. Innocent. Jane Popyncourt was brought to the court as ac hild to be ward of the king and a companion to his daughters - the princesses Margaret and Mary. With no money of her own, Jane could not hope for a powerful marriage, or perhaps even a marriage at all. But as she gorws into a lovely young woman, she still receives flattering attention from the virile young men flocking to serve the handsome new king, Henry VIII, who has recently married Catherine of Aragon. Then a dashing French prisoner of war, cousin to the king of France, is brought to London, and Jane finds she cannot help giving some of her heart - and more - to a man she can never marry. But the Tudor court is filled with dangers as well as seductions, and there are mysteries surrounding Jane's birth that have made her deadly enemies. Can she cultivate her beauty and her amorous wiles to guide her along a perilous path and bring her at last to happiness?

Personal Review:
This book was well thought out and researched. Based on the life of the real Joan Poyncourt, this book made me feel as if I was really there, watching what went down, and actually living at the court. Some parts seemed to drag on and on, and there could have been a little more lovin' for my taste, but all in all a good read. It was part pleasure part learning, which is always a good thing. It's kind of hard to describe this book or the plot without copying exactaly what was said on the back of the book. Jane isn't sure what made her mother flee to England, but she's sure that once she finds out she'll feel so much closer to her mother.

Rating 3.5 out of 5

The Courtesan's Daughter
Author: Claudia Dain
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (October 2, 2007)

From the back of the book:
Before Lady Sophia Dalby became a countess, she was a highly desired courtesan. Now that her daughter Caroline is of marrying age, her prospects are limited by Sophia's infamous past. To Sophia the solution is simple - she will pay the Earl of Ashdon's gambling debt; in exchange, he will marry her daughter.

Insulted, Caroline refuses the match. If anything, he should have to pay for her - and after meeting the fiery earl, she begins to wonder what that would be like. With Sophia pulling the strings, Lord Ashton may get more than he bargained for, and Caroline may get just what she wants ...

Personal Review:
This book was sub par for me. Nothing really stood out. The main character Caroline, or Caro as they call her in the book was whiney and very wishy washy. Just when you think she had made up her mind she was freaking out about something else. Lord Ashdon wasn't my type of hero. He was just very flat. You never really knew much about him other than the fact that he was a tool of his father's to extact revenge on Sophia.

Also Sophia was supposed to be a background character to a point, but she far over shone her daughter and the other characters. None the less I will read the rest of the seires.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5