Review of Sawyer North's THE LORD PRETENDER

 

Rating: 4.5
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies

Emma Watts is the daughter of a disgraced baron. She vows vengeance on the group responsible for her late father’s fall from grace. Emma intends to find incriminating dirt on the members of the Promethean, a gentlemen’s club that caters to nobility. The first person on her list is Simon Pike, the Earl of Blackburn. However, a fateful encounter with Simon, and a thunderstorm, gives Emma the advantage she needs. She soon discovers there is more to him than she originally thought. Can Emma let go of her need for revenge? Or will she lose far more than what she anticipated?

Simon Pike is an important member of the infamous Promethean club. He volunteers to learn the identity of the woman hellbent on ruining his club brethren and bring her to justice. Simon knows the harm a cunning and devious woman can do unimpeded. However, his chance meetings with a mysterious lady causes his opinions to waver. An unexpected accident allows Simon to walk in his spirited adversary’s shoes. Can Simon dissuade Emma from her vengeance? Or will he willingly help her bring about the Promethean’s demise?

Emma is a fascinating character. She is an unfortunate young woman who has experienced the worst thing that could happen to a noblewoman. I admire Emma’s determination not to be a damsel-in-distress, despite her family’s social standing. She knows there will be no knight, or lord, coming to their rescue nor does she expect one. What I love the most about Emma is her temerity to stand up to Simon’s mother. She is not afraid to put the dowager countess in her place.

Simon is a nice change-of-pace from the usual arrogant, alpha, and entitled nobleman in the genre. He struggles a bit to balance the two sides of his nature, until he finally realizes it is okay to be different. I adore Simon’s closeness with his young niece. She is the only female that he could openly be himself with without fear of repercussion or emotional harm. Simon also shielded her from his mother’s cold indifference. What I admire the most about Simon is his acceptance and admiration of Emma’s intelligence. He did not feel intimidated or belittled by her fiery wit or spirited demeanor, unlike most men of his status.

THE LORD PRETENDER is the first book in Sawyer North’s historical romance series, RED LION LADIES. This is my first time reading this author’s works. I have not read many (if any) romance novels written by a man, so I could not wait to give this story a try. I like the paranormal element Sawyer North weaves into the story. It is one that I have not really experienced before in the genre or book form, just in movies. The story reminded me a little of the movie IT’S A BOY GIRL THING but in a regency setting.

THE LORD PRETENDER is a delightful tale of two people forced into an unusual situation that changes their preconceived perceptions. I cannot wait to see which resident of Red Lion Square is next!

Review of Suzanne Enoch's SOMETHING IN THE HEIR

 Rating: 4
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies 

Emmeline “Emmie” Hervey is the granddaughter of a curmudgeon duke. She must marry and have children to keep her precious home. Emmie offers to help William in his political aims if he would marry her. However, after eight years of marriage, the lie she concocted seven years ago catches up with her. Emmie and Will scramble to find suitable children to play their “pretend” children or lose their home. They manage to find two recalcitrant orphans to play the part. Can Emmie prepare the children in time? Or will she discover something even more precious than Winnover Hall?

William “Will” Pershing has always been in love with Emmeline. When she needs to marry to keep her childhood home, he agrees to Emmie’s unorthodox proposal. Eight years later, William discovers that his perfect wife invented children to appease the agreement for living at Winnover Hall. He helps Emmie search for two children to pass off as their offspring. The two wily orphans they find turn their idyllic life upside down. Can William and Emmaline succeed in their subterfuge? Can he give the children up once the charade is over?

It took me a while to warm up to Emmeline. At the beginning, she comes off as too prim and self-centered for my tastes. I dislike how Emmie’s entire focus centers around Winnover Hall. I understand her desperation to keep her childhood home; however, I think she takes things too far. I adore how well Emmie and William work together. The two are a united front, working perfectly with each others’ strengths and weaknesses. What I love the most about Emmie is how George and Rose open her eyes to new possibilities. She finally realizes there is more to life than Winnover.

William surprised me in a delightful way. His easy-going personality won me instantly. I admire how Will never tried to deceive George and Rose. He understood that they had trust issues with adults, so he never asked too much from them. William also tried to make their stay fun and enjoyable. What I adore the most about Will is his dependability. Even faced with his wife’s life, he never abandoned her. Instead, Will remained her staunchest ally and helped find solutions to escape their troubles.

SOMETHING IN THE HEIR is a standalone, historical-romance novel by Suzanne Enoch. I am a big fan of this author. This story did not read like the typical romance I come to expect from Suzanne Enoch. It has more of a feel-good, fluffy vibe mixed with some comical relief. Emmie and Will’s romance is more secondary and subtle. The main point revolves more around them trying to prepare George and Rose how to maneuver in a polite society setting. The children’s mannerisms and hijinks make the story entertaining.

SOMETHING IN THE HEIR is a fun and delightful tale of two adults and two children discovering the true meaning of family. I wonder if Suzanne Enoch plans to write more stories in this new direction of hers. I cannot wait to see!

Review for Angie Fox's GIVE UP THE GHOST

 Rating: 4.5

Review courtesy of Romance Junkies

Verity Long faces the most challenging investigation of her ghost-hunting career. A notorious burn book from a town’s deceased member resurfaces. It holds ugly secrets that could shake the citizens of Sugarland, Tennessee. When the book is stolen, and a resident murdered, Verity agrees to investigate things on the spiritual realm. Verity’s investigation leads her to a possible way to free Frankie, her ghostly mobster sidekick. She just needs to locate the book and find the real killer. Can Verity find the killer before he or she kills again? Will the lead to freeing Frankie be another bust?

Sheriff Ellis Wydell has his hands tied. He anticipates trouble when a burn book shows up among the contents of a time capsule. Ellis’ suspicions prove true when a murder occurs, and his mother is the main suspect. He relies on Verity’s ghost-hunting expertise to clear his mother’s name. However, this scandal promises to tear apart his family. Can Ellis handle the eventual fallout? Or will he lose both his family and Verity?

Verity is no longer the pushover she had been at the start of the series. She has grown by leaps and bounds, thanks in part to her ghostly connections. I like how Verity is not afraid now to bend the rules a little. In her line of work, she knows that it is a necessary evil. What I like the most is how Verity and Virginia have finally come full circle. She gets the chance to air out all her grievances with her nemesis. It is a chapter in her life’s book Verity can close and move on in her future.

Once again, I am disappointed by Ellis’ lack of role in the story. It feels like he has been delegated to the background. He does pop up here or there, but it simply was not enough in my opinion. I love Ellis’ contribution to his and Verity’s dynamic. He always listens when she hits a snag in her ghostly investigations and offers his advice. What I adore the most about Ellis is how he never once abandoned his principles even for his family. He does not abuse the power his profession grants him.

GIVE UP THE GHOST is the eleventh book in Angie Fox’s paranormal romance
series, SOUTHERN GHOST HUNTER MYSTERIES I recommend reading the prior ten novels and novellas before starting this book. The story picks up where THE HAUNTED HOMECOMING, book ten, leaves off. I love the scenes with Lucy the skunk and her ghostly friends. It was a good comedic relief from the seriousness of the mystery. Frankie and his shenanigans are still my favorite parts of the story.

GIVE UP THE GHOST is a fun and quirky paranormal tale with a mixture of mystery added in for effect. I hope the next book involves Duranja and the ghostly realm. He and Verity seriously need to overcome their differences, especially if he plans to continue dating her sister. I cannot wait for Verity’s next spooky adventure!

Jeffe Kennedy's THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING out now!

 

A Broken Heart

Princess Salena Nakoa KauPo thought she was over her broken heart. She’d put her first love and childhood sweetheart, Rhyian, firmly in the past where he belonged. His bitter betrayal of her was locked away deep inside, along with her foolishly innocent hopes and dreams. Now Lena has been thrust together with him, the prince of shadows, the one man she could never resist, on a mission to save the world from a terrible cataclysm. Worse, Rhyian refuses to believe her when she says there’s no hope for them.

An Irresistible Longing

Rhyian is rather accustomed to being a failure. Goddesses know, he’s not magical enough for his sorcerous mother and not alpha enough for his father, the King of Annfwn. It hasn’t helped that he’s spent the last seven years trying to drown his sorrows—and to forget the one woman he ever loved, whose heart he carelessly shattered in a moment of weakness. Rhy knows he has to change to win back Lena’s trust, but how?

A Love That Can’t Die

As Lena and Rhy struggle to overcome the wounds of the past, they and their friends approach the final confrontation with the strange intelligence intent on rending apart the very fabric of their world. And it looks like it will come down to the pair of them to strike the final blow.

But only if they can build a new trust on the bitter past.

Unfortunately, I have not yet read the previous one. I had review books that needed completed first.
I got to read the first two and novella. Whoever enjoys fantasy and magic would love this series! I know I did!

Review of Tochika Nekome's A SERENADE FOR PRETEND LOVERS

 

Akari Sayo is having a difficult time. She catches her boyfriend with another, only to find out she was the side piece. Then, the chief director saddles her with the interview of a brilliant and handsome composer. Will Sayo agree to Chizuru’s odd offer? Can she keep herself from actually falling in love with him?

Chizuru Kobuchi is in a bind. He needs inspiration to write the score for an upcoming movie.  Sayo seems to be the answer to his needs. Chizuru agrees to the interview, only if she pretends to be his girlfriend/lover. Will Sayo offer Chizuru the proper motivation he needs to finish his composition? Or will she be a distraction?

The story’s premise is what caught my attention first. The entire fake relationship angle – it is often overdone, but I wanted to see how this mangaka handled it. The other thing that captured my notice is that the main characters are adults. There are not many mangas out there revolving around adults.

Some areas in the storyline felt forced and rushed. I would have to read the next installment, and possibly the third, before deciding if I would stick with this series or not.

Review: Kerrigan Byrne's CRYING WOLFE

 

Rating: 4.5
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies

Elijah “Eli” Wolfe is a wealthy American mine-owner. He is often referred to as Midas. Eli ventures to England to search for a particular treasure stolen from him years ago. He pursues a fetching thief straight into the young woman’s bedchambers, where he is discovered by his friend and business partner. Elijah finds himself saddled with an unwanted bride. However, he soon takes a possessive liking to Rosaline Goode and their marriage. Can Rosaline help Elijah maneuver in English society? Will he find the treasure he is seeking? Or will Eli find something more precious than treasure?

Rosaline Goode is the youngest daughter of the late bigamist Baron of Cresthaven. She sneaks into her neighbor’s observatory to use the telescope and to retrieve her wayward kitten. However, Rosaline cannot curb the impulse to filch one of the treasures in the room. She soon finds herself chased by a big and foul-mouthed American. Rosaline must marry Elijah to keep the Goodes name from another scandal. She intends to keep her shameful weakness from her new husband. Can Rosaline control her larcenous impulses? Or will it benefit Elijah in the end?

Elijah is abrasive, foul-mouthed, and dangerous. He is a man not to trifle with. I can see where some would feel put off by his rough demeanor and language. However, it totally works for me! I like how Elijah is not afraid to voice his displeasure and opinions to aristocrats, bureaucrats, and autocrats. He is a staunch advocate that workers receive a decent wage. Eli has experienced their life firsthand, so he understands their situations. What I adore the most about Elijah is his acceptance of Rosaline’s intelligence and interests. He is not intimidated by her intellect, and he enjoyed learning new things from her.

Rosaline is Elijah’s perfect counterpart. She is courteous, soft-spoken, and shy. Usually, I am not a fan of those types of heroines, yet I could not help but instantly like her. She has endured much from her late mother and late uncle’s cruelty. I love Rosaline’s readiness to help Elijah navigate the turbulent waters of English society. She knows he is unfamiliar with their many rules and customs. Plus, Rosaline helps him mend gaffes he unwittingly caused in his ignorance. What I adore the most about Rosaline is her acceptance of her brother’s orientation. She does not share society’s views on it.

CRYING WOLFE is the fifth book in Kerrigan Byrne’s historical romance series, GOODE GIRLS, a spinoff from her popular VICTORIAN REBELS series. I highly recommend reading the previous four books in the series, especially TEMPTING FATE. It introduces the four Goode sisters to their new siblings and their late father’s secret. For an added treat, I suggest reading the entire VICTORIAN REBELS series. Dorian Blackwell, the hero from THE HIGHWAYMAN, the first book in that series, makes a brief appearance. His part in the story made me ridiculously happy!

However, there is one part in the book that just felt odd to me. I will not state what it is and risk a possible spoiler. It did not dampen my enjoyment.

CRYING WOLFE is an exhilarating tale of two opposites learning to open their hearts to each other. I always find myself utterly captivated by Kerrigan Bryne’s books. I simply devour them. And this one is no exception! I cannot wait to see which Goode is next!

Review: Julie Ann Walker's DEAD IN THE WATER

 

Review courtesy of Romance Junkies
Rating: 4.5

Dalton “Doc” Simmons co-partners Deep Six Salvage with five of his former Navy Seal brethren. He should be excited about them finding the legendary Santa Cristina’s sunken treasure. However, an incoming hurricane threatens to scatter the hoard from its resting place. Doc has no intention of letting another woman in his heart, yet he cannot ignore Camilla D’ Angelo or her smart mouth. The upcoming storm is not the only danger the two face on the island. Can Doc finally let go of his late wife’s memory? Or will her ghost destroy a possibility with Cami?

Camilla “Cami” D’Angelo is a lawyer who specializes in property disputes. She manages to find a loophole that allows the Deep Six Salvage crew to keep their treasure. Cami refuses to mix business with pleasure; however, Doc tempts her to break that rule. She cannot ignore the sizzling chemistry brewing between them. The hurricane allows them the chance to act on their shared attraction, but gun-toting men destroy their time together. Will Cami confess her true feelings to Doc? Or will he unwittingly break her heart?

Doc is one heck of a puppeteer. That man played with my heartstrings throughout the series. I understand Doc’s reluctance to move on after his wife’s death. That is no easy task to do, especially when the person had been your everything. I like how Doc behaves as a big brother to everyone on the island. He is not only there for his fellow Navy Seal brethren but the women too. I like to think they are the reason Doc continues to forge onward in life. What I adore the most about Doc is his humanity. He may be a warrior, but he hates taking another’s life, even if they threaten his own.

I have liked Cami from the moment she was introduced in the series. She is everything I adore in a heroine. Cami may be independent and sassy, but she also possesses a vulnerable side. I like Cami’s morality. She is a woman with a strong sense of right and wrong despite her father’s background. What I love the most about Cami is her unwillingness to compete with Doc’s first wife. She has no intention of replacing the woman. Cami also understands that Lily’s memory will always live on inside Doc’s mind, and she is fine with that.

DEAD IN THE WATER is the sixth book in Julie Ann Walker’s romantic suspense series, DEEP SIX.  I recommend reading the prior five books to best understand the brotherhood the six men share. It also explains the reason why they fell into treasure hunting. Plus, Doc and Cami’s lively interactions take place in the background of the last few books. I like the secondary romance between the island’s resident hippie and philosopher, John, and Dana Levine.

DEAD IN THE WATER is the dramatic conclusion to a wondrous series. I am sad that there will be no more books. The author does a marvelous job of allowing us readers a glimpse of the former couples’ futures. In my opinion, it was the perfect way to end the series.