Marquita Valentine "Reading an Excerpt at Lady Jane's" (Guest Post)
Wendy Vella (Interview)
Sedona Venez "Character Highlight for Torch Channing"




Enjoy!




Until Next Time,
*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

I had a very slow start this year; between my college courses (at the time I was in the last semester of getting my Associates Degree) and then the health problems I had around the same time, I had very little time for reading, and absolutely no time for blogging. In fact, as you all know, up until September, I took a break from blogging.

But now I am back at it again, slowly working through all the old reviews I need post, reading all the books I was behind on reviewing, etc. I think I'll be caught up by....oh, 2013! LOL.

Usually I have no problem hitting close to 200 or more books in a year, but obviously this year I had to cut my goal back a bit. At first it was 100, which I hit a few months back, and then I moved it up to 150. But even that goal was just beyond my reach...

Here is what I did manage to read during 2011:


January:
1. Halo by Alexandra Adnornetto
2. Unseen by Rachel Caine (reviewed, only ever posted on NOR)
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

February:
4. Ravishing in Red by Madeline Hunter
5. Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney

March:
6. Warcry by Elizabeth Vaughan (review)
7. A Highlander's Homecoming by Melissa Mayhue
8. A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore

April:
None!

May:
9.  Stranger in My Arms by Lisa Kleypas (review)
10. The Lost Saint by Bree Despain
11. The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

June:
12. The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley (review)
13. Aussie Rules by Jill Shalvis
14. The Romance Readers' Book Club by Julie L. Cannon
15. The Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz
16. The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
17. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
18. Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin
19. Street Game by Christine Feehan
20. Fallen by Celeste Bradley
21. Lady of Desire by Gaelen Foley
22. Devil in My Bed by Celeste Bradley
23. Savage Dawn by Cassie Edwards
24. Wolf Runner by Constance O'Banyon
25. Much Ado About Marriage by Karen Hawkins
26. Savage Hope by Cassie Edwards
27. Chosen Woman by Shirl Henke

July:
28. Bengal's Heart by Lora Leigh
29. Sunshine and Shadow by Kathleen Harrington (O of P, cover not shown below)
30. The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
31. Forever In Your Embrace by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
32. Whirlwind by Nancy Martin
33. Bright Hopes by Pat Warren
34 Wisconsin Wedding by Carla Neggers
35. The Clayborne Brides by Julie Garwood
36. An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James
37. Devil in a Kilt by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
38. Knight of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor
39. Master of Torment by Karin Tabke
40. The Glass Slipper by Linda O. Johnston
41. Starlight, Starbright by Saranne Dawson
42. Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
43. Violet Fire by Brenda Joyce
44. High School Confidential by Jeremy Iversen
45. Monkey Wrench by Nancy Martin
46. Irish  Born *reread* by Nora Roberts

August;
47. No Place Like Home by Fern Michaels
48. The Book of Scandal by Julia London
49. Secrets of a Proper Lady by Victoria Alexander
50. Always a Scoundrel by Suzanne Enoch
51. Colter's Woman by Maya Banks
52. Colter's Wife by Maya Banks
53. Shapeshifters Craving by Lee Pearce
54. Marly's Choice *reread* by Lora Leigh
55. Slow Ride by Lorelei James
56. Sarah's Seduction *reread* by Lora Leigh
57. Just One Season in London by Leigh Michaels (review)
58. Heather's Gift *reread* by Lora Leigh
59. August Heat by Lora Leigh
60. A Loving Scoundrel by Johanna Lindsey
61. An Unexpected Pleasure by Candance Camp
62. One Wish by Linda Lael Miller
63. Lonetree Ranchers: Brant and Morgan by Kathie DeNosky
64. Nelson's Brand by Diana Palmer
65. Lonetree Ranchers: Colt by Kathie DeNosky
*66. Silent Night Man by Diana Palmer
*67. Sutton's Way by Diana Palmer
68. Temptress in Training by Susan Gee Heino (review)
69. The Mating by Nicky Charles (Free E-Book, cover not shown below)
70. The Keeping by Nicky Charles (Free E-Book, cover not shown below)
71. Savage Beloved by Cassie Edwards
72. Twice the Temptation by Suzanne Enoch
73. Men In Blue by Devyn Quinn, Myla Jackson and Delta Dupree
74. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
75. The Last Kiss by Luanne Rice

September:
76. Sunshine by Pat Warren
77. Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
78. Sins of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
79. Queene of Light by Jennifer Armintrout
80. Isle of Lies by Donna Fletcher
81. Traveler by Melanie Jackson
82. Barbie and the Beast by Linda Thomas Sundstrom
83. In the Flesh by Livia Dare
84. Seduce Me in Shadow by Shayla Black
85. Breath of Fire by Tammy Kane
86. To Tempt a Rogue by Connie Mason
87. Kissing Midnight by Emma Holly
88. Breaking Midnight by Emma Holly
89. Love is Blind by Lynsay Sands
90. Snowy Night with a Stranger by Jane Feather, Sabrina Jeffries, Julia London
91. Last Breath by Rachel Caine (review)
92. The Next Always by Nora Roberts (review)
93. The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox
94. Always Mine by Sophia Johnson
95. Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart
96. The Viking's Woman by Heather Graham
97. The Ever Knight by Georgia Fox (review)
98. Beyond the Clouds by Elizabeth Batten-Carew(O of Print,cover not shown below)
99. What Happens in London by Julia Quinn
100. Confessions of a Viscount by Shirley Karr
101. The Virgin Proxy by Georgia Fox (review)

October:
102. The Rules of Seduction by Madeline Hunter
103. Blazing Star by Suzanne Ellison
104. Moon Dance by Amy Blankenship (review)
105. Curse the Dawn by Karen Chance
106. Automagically by Sommer Marsden (review)
107. Playing with Fire by Gena Showalter
108. Unraveled by C.J. Barry
109. The Pleasure Master by Nina Bangs
110. All You Desire by Kirsten Miller (review)
111. 2012 by Whitley Strieber
112. To Burn by Claudia Dain
113. The Angel by Carla Neggers
114. A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant (review)
115. Under the Radar by Fern Michaels
116. Somewhere My Lass by Beth Trissel (review)
117. Aching for Always by Gwyn Cready
118. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone *reread* by J.K. Rowling

November:
119. Night Light by Amy Blankenship (review)
120. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber
121. A Good Confession by Bridget Whelan (review)
122. Secrets of the Highlander by Janet Chapman
123. The Fire King by Marjorie Liu
124. Shifting Love by Constance O'Day-Flannery
125. Too Wicked to Wed by Cara Elliott (review)
126. Bad Boys Next Exit by Shannon McKenna, Donna Kauffman, and E.C. Sheedy
127. A Christmas Ball by Jennifer Ashley, Emily Bryan, and Alissa Johnson
128. Mad About the Earl by Christina Brooke (review)
129. The Rogue Pirate's Bride by Shana Galen (review)

December:
130. Spirit Bound by Christine Feehan (review)
131. Needing Nita by Norah Wilson
132. SEAL of My Dreams by Various Authors (review)
133. The Cowboy's Christmas Miracle by Raeanne Thayne
134. All About Seduction by Katy Madison (review)
135. The Highlander's Heart by Amanda Forester (review)
136. Sunrise with a Notorious Lord by Alexandra Hawkins (review)
137. Raven's Shadow by Patricia Briggs
138. Avenger's Angel by Heather Killough-Walden (review)

Highlander's Heart by Amanda Forester
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (November 1, 2011)
Series: The Highlander Series, 2
Genre: Historical Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
Fleeing into the wilderness to escape an abusive marriage, Lady Isabelle Tynsdale would sooner face down a wild boar than spend another night with her wretched husband. Battered by the elements, desperate to elude a band of attackers, and defending herself against, as fate would have it, a wild boar she is rescued by the handsome Laird David Campbell.



Campbell knows holding Isabelle captive for ransom is his best chance to temper the storm threatening to destroy his clan. The ransom of an English countess should be more than enough to pay off his debts to England and save him from an unwanted marriage. But Isabelle didn't escape her husband just to become another man's captive and Laird Campbell is seriously misguided if he thinks she's going to go quietly.






Other Books in the Series:
Click on the covers to buy from BN.com; the title links to the book's page on the author's site.






Book 1: The Highlander's Sword











Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | BN.com
More Info: Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt



My Review:

Lady Isabelle Tynsdale was married off at a young age, to a man much older than herself. Her wedding night was horrible—and when he suddenly came in to try and kill her during the night, she fled, running back to the safety of her uncle and her home. That is where she has been for years now; but when her uncle dies, leaving her without any family or protection, she knows she must petition for a divorce if she wants to stay safe from her husband.




During the journey she becomes separated from her guard and wanders off a bit too far. She finds herself in the wilds of Scotland, and it seems like every time she turns around something (or someone) new is coming after her. Suddenly she is saved by David, Laird Campbell, a rugged Highlander who catches her attention and makes her wish that she was someone else....



But rather than help her to get back to England, a place he despises, he decides to ransom her off to her husband and be rid of her. The only problem is, his whole heart isn't into this idea; and despite how much trouble the English lass is, there is something about her that enchants him, that makes him want to know more. Some part of him would love to be her knight in shining armor, but when he has two powerful rival clans trying to marry him off to their daughter and granddaughter, he knows that he is as free as Isabelle for such a relationship. David has a responsibility to his clan, to his family, and to his country—but he also has a responsibility to his heart. So which does he listen to?



The one thing I truly enjoyed about The Highlander's Heart was the wit and banter between David and Isabelle. It wasn't constantly there, but it would show up just when I least expected it and I'd find myself smiling like a fool for the next few pages. They were constantly throwing jabs back and forth at each other, some sarcastic, some joking, all of them just funny enough that if you caught it, you would chuckle: subtle humor, one of my favorites, especially in a book.



I liked that Isabelle was a bit of a handful, but at times I felt that she was simply being too silly, even, dare I say, stupid, by running off every time without thinking about the consequences. She simply assumed that she would be able to make it back to England with no problem, as if her simple presence would make everything turn out perfectly, rather than the reality of it: she was nothing but a bundle of bad luck, always getting herself into trouble. And often pulling others into the mess with her! She wasn't my favorite heroine ever, to be honest, but neither was she the worst. I simply would have preferred to know more about her; her character wasn't completely three-dimensional, something that I think is a requirement in a good book.



David was much the same way. I would have liked more from his character, but what was there wasn't bad, it just wasn't my favorite either. I did like that David was a flawed hero, in that he was deathly afraid of heights. He doesn't like that he has this fear, being a big brawny laird and all, but his family understands and that's really all that matters. Now Isabelle does as well, and in fact manages to help him through his fear a bit...by use of a diversion of the most sinful sort!



The storyline was very complex, and pulled in a lot of historical accuracy, in regards to the Scots' fight against England and whatnot. I do wish that there hadn't been so many sidelines that the plot when off onto, as it did take away from the main romance of Isabelle and David a bit, but at least they were enjoyable, if cut a bit short due to trying to fit so many stories in the one book.



3.5 STARS! A wonderful historical romance, The Highlander's Heart may have a few flaws, but it is still a good, solid read for any Highlander fan out there. I would recommend this book for some of the witty scenes alone even if I had problems with a few of the other areas in the novel. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, as it is supposed to cover Morrigan McNab's story, and she was a bit of a feisty woman. A lush, enjoyable historical, The Highlander's Heart is sure to entertain many readers!


Favorite Quote:

"I'm getting chilled waiting for you to stop whining and start impressing me with your kissing arts."

"Whining? A Highlander never whines."

"Still waiting."

"We grunt and growl and scratch ourselves in inappropriate places, but never, ever whine."

"And I am still waiting."

This is a good example of the witty, yet sometimes subtle, banter that goes on between Isabelle and David, and one of the reasons I liked this book.





~~~
Thanks to Night Owl Reviews, where I received this ARC for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!) This review is the property of NOR.
~~~ 






Enjoy!






Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Sunrise with a Notorious Lord by Alexandra Hawkins
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (January 3, 2012)
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Lords of Vice, 4
Summary (Amazon.com):
Dashing, decadent, and deliciously seductive, the notorious Lords of Vice indulge their every desire—from dusk until dawn…



Christopher Courtland, Earl of Vanewright—known around London as “Vane”—is the very picture of a rich, handsome ladies’ man. Why shackle himself to just one lady when he’s free to sample them all? In spite of his own mother’s attempts at matchmaking, Vane has sworn to stay single. Until he has a chance run-in with Miss Isabel Thorne…


A modest and refined beauty, Isabel is a lot more brazen than she appears. When a pickpocket tries to make away with Vane’s bejeweled snuffbox, Isabel attempts to thwart his escape…and manages to steal Vane’s heart. But the harder he tries to seduce the sharp-tongued, strong-willed Isabel, the more she resists. Now it’s up to this tried-and-true bachelor to find a new way to play the game…or risk losing the one woman who’s ever captured his heart.



Other Books in the Series:
Click on the covers to buy from BN.com; the title links to the book's page on the author's site.






Book 1: All Night with a Rogue









Book 2: Till Dawn with the Devil










Book 3: After Dark with a Scoundrel






Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | BN.com | NOOK
More Info: Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt^
^(Download this sampler, the excerpt for this book, and many others, is in it!)



My Review:

Isabel Thorne life has been anything but easy. Her father's death lead to her mother's inability to deal with everyday life, leaving Isabel to take care of the household herself. With limited resources, this hasn't been easy; her father was only a mere working man, a philosopher of sorts, and though her mother was born the daughter of a lord she was cut off completely the moment she married Mr. Thorne. Isabel has come to accept that she will never have a glorious life, but if she can at least keep her younger sister, Delia, from trouble until she marries, she will be content. This is no easy task when her sister only wishes to flirt with every man she meets, but has no wish to marry yet.




It is because of her sister that Isabel gets the chance to go to London for a season. A lady of the ton asks her to come to town, with Delia, for the purpose of trying to arrange a match between her son and Delia. Isabel agrees, but doesn't realize at the time all the trouble this plan is going to be. Nor does she realize that the lady's plan all along was not for Delia to be the bride, but rather Isabel herself...



Christopher, more commonly known to the world as Vane (Lord Vanewright) is anything but tame. He is, in fact, one of the Lords of Vice, a group of young men that are said to participate in truly scandalous affairs, as well as own the Nox club, which is known for its less than honorable reputation. Like the rake he is, he has been avoiding his mother's matchmaking attempts for two years now, but can he outwit her yet again, or will he find himself leg-shackled to some young heiress by the end of the season?



When he runs into the enchanting Miss Isabel Thorne while trying to break off an affair with his current mistress (while in a seamstress, of all places!), he thinks nothing of it. Her younger sister is with her, and while many men would no doubt say that Delia is more beautiful, his eyes kept straying to Isabel instead. Little does he know that she is plotting with his mother, trying to set him up with Delia. He has no attraction to the younger Thorne sister, but Isabel is a temptation he finds himself unable to resist. Could the infamous Lord Vane finally have found the one woman who can tame his rakish soul?



Upon finding out about her connection with his mother's plans, Vane casts Isabel aside; how could she lie to him like that? He trusted her, believed she was one of the few honest women out there, and he had come to think of her not only as his friend and lover, but as, perhaps, something more permanent. After confronting his mother with the discovery, he finds out that perhaps Isabel was telling him the truth all along—or at least the truth as she knew it... It seems his mother was trying to be sneaky about all of it and only told Isabel that the matchmaking was to be between Vane and Delia, when instead she had set her eyes on Isabel for a future daughter-in-law. After the cruel way he treated her, how can he ever convince Isabel that he is the right man for her—the only man for her? By the use of some late night seduction of course!



I liked this book, I truly did. However, I didn't love it. I had a hard time connecting real well with the characters. Isabel wasn't too bad; at least she wasn't a silly society miss; she knows what hard work is and she does it, unlike her younger sister. I felt like I could empathize with Isabel a bit, in that she often felt like she was giving everything she had (to her family, to her responsibilities) and yet was getting nothing back in return. I know I certainly feel this way at times, and I am at least glad that Isabel was not one of those that whines about it. As to Vane...I like a good rake, but he I didn't fall in love with this one. Something about him, or perhaps a lack of knowing who he really is as a character, kept me from falling for him.



The storyline felt a bit rough at times; the pace more “stop-and-go” than smooth and steady. Part of it, naturally, can be due to the fact that I was reading an uncorrected copy; however, I don't think the ARC should take the entire blame. It seemed like there was not a lot of interaction between Isabel and Vane at times and yet suddenly they are both in love and consummating said love for one another. Hold on—where was the build up? Where was the romance? Where were the basic connections? I barely saw any of it, and that is a shame because all of these things combined, when done well, can be much more entertaining and fulfilling than the climax of these elements: the sex scene.



3.5 Stars! Despite a few flaws, Sunrise with a Notorious Lord wasn't a bad read; however, it's not one that I would recommend running right out to buy either. Instead, it falls somewhere in between—at least for me. I will, however, be looking into the other books in this series (both previous and upcoming) because some of the other Lords of Vice sound quiet interesting and I am hoping that their reform will be a bit more enjoyable than Vane's. For a quick read, there is nothing wrong with Sunrise with a Notorious Lord; but if you are looking for more from your romance novel (strong characters you can relate to and a tangible romance for example) than perhaps you might wish to look elsewhere.




~~~
Thanks to Night Owl Reviews, where I received this ARC for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!) This review is the property of NOR.
~~~ 




Enjoy!




Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Mad About the Earl by Christina Brooke
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (January 3, 2012)
Genre: Historical Romacne
Series: The Minstry of Marriage, 2
Summary (Amazon.com):
Designed to arrange matches of rank and affluence, the powerful Ministry of Marriage has no interest in love. But when does the heart ever play by the rules?


Lady Rosamund Westruther has no objection to the match arranged for her by the Ministry—until she meets her intended. Gruff, stubborn Griffin, Earl of Tregarth, is hardly the charming nobleman the classic beauty has dreamed of for so long. While a proper lady can’t cry off, she can demand a proper courtship …
Griffin is aware of his duty to wed—and more convinced than ever that the lovely Rosamund has no place with a man like him. Built for fields and stables rather than drawing rooms, Griffin doubts he can win her in the polite manner society requires. But with every passing day, the attraction between them flares higher and hotter. Maybe there is more to love than meets the eye…


Other Books in the Series:
Click on the covers to buy from BN.com







Book 1: Heiress in Love







Book 3: A Duchess to Remember
Publication date unknown at this time.







Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | BN.com | NOOK
More Info: Author's Site | Book Site



My Review:

Lady Rosamund Westruther grew up with a first hand look at how disastrous arranged marriages can be as her mother moved from one lover to another while her father tried, and often failed, to keep her scandals under wrap. It would then make sense, would it not, for a child raised in such circumstances to long for a love match instead; but Rosamund has is in her head that love and marriage do not go so easily hand in hand. She is prepared to enter into an arranged marriage herself, and she plans on making the best of it. Little does she know at the time that true love does indeed make a marriage better.




Griffin, Earl of Tregarth, came from a horrible family as well; he, along with his younger brother and sister, was raised by his spiteful and malicious grandfather. Rather than being shown love and affection like a child should, he was beat by his grandfather, forced to do menial tasks, blackmailed into submission, and humiliated for his size and lack of grace. Now, more than a year since his beast of a grandfather has passed on, he is still suffering from his younger years, though he won't admit it. He will do anything in his power to keep his brother and sister safe and happy, even if it means forgoing his own pride and happiness. It is because of this strong sense of protectiveness that he steps forward to marry his intended bride, Lady Rosamund, after agreeing to the original marriage more than three years ago. But he never knew that it wasn't protecting his siblings that was foremost on his mind when he made this decision, but rather the memory of the beautiful Rosamund, the only lady he has who dares to stand up to him...and the woman that fires his blood like no other.



Their match may have been arranged by the Ministry of Marriage, along with their respective guardians, years ago but this marriage is hardly one of cold convenience; the passion runs deep between the two, and nothing, not even brief arguments can put it out....



Mad About the Earl is my first foray into the work of Ms. Brooke, but I promise it will not be the last. If this book was any indication, it seems that Brooks is a very talented writer, one that is able to weave together both the sensual and romantic, as well as keep the story interesting with plenty of witty remarks, images, and some very unique and loveable characters. I found myself smiling many times throughout this book, especially while reading about Sweet William Dearlove (just trust me on this one; you'll have to read the book!). There were very few moments during the book where I was bored (and the few I am counting were very brief). While the story may not have been ripe with action and adventure, it was still pleasantly captivating. There are many secrets in this book, though we only find out the truth about a few of them—the others, it seems, will have to wait for future books in this series.



I will admit that as enjoyable as this book was for me, I did find a few flaws, at least for my taste. Personally, I wanted to know more about Griffin's past, his siblings (though we do learn some about Jacks, as she is present in most of the book) and the exact events that shaped the man he is in this book. I always love a tortured hero, and Griffin is definitely such a character; however, I felt like we were only given a glimpse of who is he, what his character is like. Rosamund could also have used a bit more, well, background to her character. She wasn't a silly Society miss, like everyone assumed she was, and I respected her for that reason, but I still felt as if there was something missing from her as well, something that, when everything was said and done, had me placing her as a mere acquaintance of mine rather than a good friend. To me, this is something that any good book should strive for: to make the reader feel as if the main characters, as well as many of the secondary characters, are not just fictional people on a page, but rather our own dear friends that we've been with through the ups and downs of the story.



4 STARS! Overall, Mad About the Earl is a very charming and enjoyable read for any historical romance fan. The romance is definitely very heated and sensual at times, and I'm sure that if you are anything like me, you too will be wishing for a Griffin of your own. He may be rough around the edges, and a bit moody at times, but he can also make your blood boil with just a look, a kiss, a touch. Who cares if he isn't comfortable in the ballrooms of London? It is much more important for a man to be comfortable in the arms of his woman—both in the bed and out! I will be adding more of Christina Brooke's novels to my list, and I suggest that you do the same as well.


~~~
Thanks to Night Owl Reviews, where I received this ARC for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!) This review is the property of NOR.
~~~ 







Enjoy!






Until Next Time,


*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Did Santa bring you everything you wanted? Not to imply, by any means, that Christmas equals tons of gifts (something the rest of the world, including the media does believe); but it is always nice to receive a few things, and they don't have to be big or expensive to be meaningful, right? :D


Well, here's your last chance to win your own copy of Christine Feehan's Oceans of Fire! The Holiday Giveaway for it ends this Saturday, Dec 31st, so if you haven't already entered, head on over to the post HERE and enter now!



Oh, and if you have any questions about how to enter (I know my instructions were not the clearest originally, though I have edited them since then), please send me an email and I will help to clear up any concerns right away. Good luck to everyone!



If you aren't interested in reading this book, or you already have a copy, that's fine. But perhaps you can still do me a favor and help to spread the word to others that you think might be interested? Sharing is caring, as they say, and I think this applies double when it concerns a giveaway for free books! :D


Enjoy!






Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant
Publisher: Bantam (December 27, 2011) Genre: Historical Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):


Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | B and N | NOOK
More Info: Author Website | Book Page | Excerpt



My Review:

Debut author Cecilia Grant offers romance readers a look into a storyline that is not often seen. But while the story has the potential to captivate, this reader found it, unfortunately, to be lacking instead.


Martha Russell was only just recently widowed. She doesn't mourn his death, but she didn't plot it either. She is finally free of him...but there's only one problem. Mr. Russell did not leave her pregnant. When she is told that she must move out, for her late husband's brother is to inherit, she makes a sudden decision (after hearing tales of the man's time at the estate years before) and tells a little white lie. It is possible, she tells everyone, that she may indeed be pregnant, and therefore be carrying the estate's rightful heir. In order for this plan to work though, Martha must quickly (and secretly) get pregnant within the next month in order to pass the babe off as her late husband's. But who will she get to do the job?

Enter Theophilus Mirkwood, a typical young man who is accustomed to London and all that it includes. When his father tires of him running around and spending his money with no concerns as to the consequences, he decides it is time for his 26-year-old son to learn how to work and send him off to the country estate in Sussex to learn how things are run there. No sooner then he arrives and he receives a calling card from a neighbor; it's Mrs. Russell, the recent widow he saw in church the other day. Intrigued, he pays her a visit, but he never would have guessed what she was going to ask him for...

Martha decides on Mirkwood to be her “hired stud” for the month, as he already plans on returning to London as soon as possible, therefore leaving her and any babe that may come in peace. She offers him money for his seed with promise of more should she deliver a boy. Though taken back by her proposition, Theo agrees as he figures this easy “job” will help to make his stay in Sussex more enjoyable. He soon finds out, though, that there is no joy in being needed only for his seed, and finds it difficult to come to her day after day while she lies there waiting for it all to be over.

Slowly Theo breaks down the walls surrounding Martha, and by the end of their month together she realizes that with the right man she too can find enjoyment. Meanwhile, she teaches him a few valuable lessons as well, about responsibility, taking care of those less fortunate, and of how to run an estate smoothly. But when Theo declares his love for her, she draws away, arguing that he is young and only thinks he is in love when really any woman would illicit the same response from him. He sets out to prove her wrong—but will she listen?

I tried to enjoy this book, I really did. But the writing was stiff, formal, almost like a report written on how a romance story progresses. This I could have dealt with (maybe). But the biggest flaw in the book's construction lay at the base of its foundation—the characters.

I didn't much care for Martha or Theo; I felt they were about as three-dimensional as the various background characters that showed up throughout the story. There was no emotion from them, no distinction in their characters, and we did not get to see things clearly from their point of view (it read like someone commenting on their outward actions rather than anything internal). In fact, I felt as if, even after almost 350 pages of their story, I didn't even know them. Not as friends, not even as passing acquaintances. Instead, they were as much a stranger to me at the turn of the last page as they were at page one.

If they had been more developed, more defined in who they were and what they stood for, I think the book would have been better off. As it was, the only reason I finished this book was because I had hoped it would improve—and more importantly, I had an honest review to write.


2.5 Stars! Despite the unique storyline potential, the characters and writing was flat, and fell short of my original expectations for A Lady Awakened. The passion, for all the times they joined together in this novel, was often missing, or even worse, felt forced. Personally, I wouldn't recommend this book to others, and I wouldn't read it again myself. However, I try not to cross an author off my list completely after only one book, so I may still look for Grant's book in the future—but I won't go out of my way to do so.




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Thanks to Night Owl Reviews, where I received this ARC for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!) This review is the property of NOR.
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Enjoy!






 Until Next Time,



*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!