TBQ'S Book Palace

What Did I Receive?

2012-01-30T02:00:00.000-07:00

This past week I had a nice package in the mail--- a BIG box of books, complete with tons of awesome swag!

Really, it's a girl's dream package!

Okay, well, except for a drop-dead-sexy Scottish Highlander on your doorstep. But my mailman doesn't deliver these sorts of packages (Damn!). :D

So, here is what was in said box. All books (and swag) were courtesy of Kati R. from Romancing Rakes. She had a wonderful giveaway while doing a guest post on Aislynn's blog (on her birthday, nonetheless--talk about a very giving girl!)

I know I've said it already, but THANK YOU again, Kati--so many great books, I don't even know where to start! :D

Won:

Here is a list of the titles:

Nauti and Wild by Lora Leigh and Jaci Burton
The Stone Prince by Gena Showalter*
Lord of Rage by Jill Monroe*
Callaghan's Bride by Diana Palmer*
Devil's Bargain by Jade Lee
My Dangerous Pleasure by Carolyn Jewel
Never a Gentleman by Eileen Dreyer
Promise me Tonight by Sara Lindsey
Saving Grace by Carolyn Davidson
Crusader Captive by Merline Lovelace
The Bride Wore Scarlet by Liz Carlyle
Wicked in Your Arms by Sophie Jordan
Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle
More than Words, Vol 7 by Carly Phillips, Donna Hill, and Jill Shalvis

*= I already own a copy of this particular book. This means that I may use these ones for future giveaways here on the blog--keep your eyes out if I do! :D

Bought:

I also bought a few books (freebies) for my Nook this past week.

NOTE: At the time of purchase, these ebooks were all free on BN.com. This may no longer be the case. The titles link to the Amazon page; the books may or may not be free there as well.

The Dream Spell by Emma Daniels

Bonded by Nicky Charles (unable to find on Amazon?)

Aaibhe-Shee Queen by Claudy Conn

Northern Exposure by Mari Carr

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What did you receive this week? Anything good in the old mailbox? Or perhaps you bought/won/received something via the internet? Let me know--I love hearing about all the great books everyone has!

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!

Lusting for Covers (57)

2012-01-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

Here's what you do:

1- Take the graphic (left) to use on your post. Remember to give credit to the original host (TBQ).

2- Choose your own book cover that you've fallen in "lust" with in the past week. It can be new, old, a reprint, or even a book that is not yet out-- it's all up to you! If you find a cover that catches your eye, then showcase it on your blog, and let others see the pretty covers out there.

3- Copy the direct link to your own L4C post into the Mr. Linky widget at the bottom of this post (when in doubt, use this link and then scroll down to find the current L4C post), and allow others to come and see what you picked!

4- (OPTIONAL): Besides posting the picture of the book cover you chose, it's nice to provide the book summary, title, author, or a website link for the book. It's not required, but it can help you readers' to add more books to their own list! A brief "Why I choose this cover" is also appreciated, but not required.

NOTE: PLEASE link back to my blog (http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com) somewhere in your post, letting viewers know that it is my meme, not something you are trying to call your own. Failing to do so, with the intent of actually calling this your own work, will result in trouble! I hate threatening, but really, is it so hard to post a link that says "This meme is hosted by TBQ."? Link love is great, and actually quite easy-- please use it!

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Here's my candidate for the week:

Deliver Me From Darkness by Tes Hilaire

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 7, 2012)

Summary (Amazon.com):

A STRANGER IN THE NIGHT...

He had once been a warrior of the Light, one of the revered Paladin. A protector. But now he lives in darkness, and the shadows are his sanctuary. Every day is a struggle to overcome the bloodlust. Especially the day Karissa shows up at his doorstep.

COMES KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

She is light and bright and everything beautiful—despite her scratches and torn clothes. Every creature of the night is after her. So is every male Paladin. Because Karissa is the last female of their kind. But she is his. He may not have a soul, but he can't deny his heart.

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | BN.com | NOOK

Why?
Again, half-naked man on the front--really, what more is needed?

Oh, and it's blue-- my personal favorite. :)

What cover are you currently lusting for? Tell me, I want to know! Follow the directions above on how to post your own Lusting for Covers, and leave a comment telling me what you think of Deliver Me From Darkness's cover.

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!

[NetGalley Review]: "Stud"

2012-01-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

Stud by Cheryl Brooks
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 7, 2012)
Series: Cat Star Chronicles, 8
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Romance

Summary (Amazon.com):

THEY'RE GALAXIES APART...

Even for a Zetithian, Tarq Zulveidinoe's sexual prowess is legendary. Believing it's all he's good for, Tarq sets out to perpetuate his threatened species by offering his services to women across the galaxy...

BUT ONE FORCE CAN BRING THEM TOGETHER...

Lucinda Force is the sensitive dark horse in a self-absorbed family, repeatedly told that no man will ever want such a plain woman. Lucy longs for romance, but is resigned to her loveless lot in life-until Tarq walks through the door of her father's restaurant on Talus Five...

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | BN.com

More Info: Author's Site

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

Book 1: Slave

Book 2: Warrior

Book 3: Rogue

Book 4: Outcast

Book 5: Fugitive

Book 6: Hero

Book 7: Virgin

My Review:

For years, I've heard great things about the Cat Star Chronicles. I put the first few book on my list and I was going to read them right away. But life happened, like always, and the books are still sitting on my wish list. After having the opportunity to read the newest release in this series, Stud, for review, I'm thinking that it is probably best that the books are still on my wish list...

Stud centers around Tarq, the Zetithian who is trying to repopulate his species by hiring himself out as, you guessed it, a stud, to any woman in the galaxy who can successfully carry his young. He knows all there is to know about working in the bedroom, and he believes that this is the only job suitable for him—the only one he is capable of, as he sees himself as being “stupid”, when in fact he simple has a learning disorder that has prevented him from learning how to read. But all his skills in the bedroom can't prepare him for the troubles he will come across with Lucy, a waitress in a small restaurant he visits while on a job.

Lucy has been stuck under her father's thumb all her life, with little to no experience with the real world. She works for him (for free), she does all the housework, and takes care of her mother and younger sister, both of whom are “unable” to do any hard work (aka, lazy). She's a grown woman, and yet she has about as much control over her own life as a small child. But when Tarq sits down at her table, she's finally tempted to throw off her father's shackles and do something very reckless—like beg Tarq to impregnate her so she can finally know what it is like to be loved. She's got everything figured out: after the deed is done, she will sneak out of town during the night and travel to the next town, where a friend of hers lives. She never thought that Tarq would follow her—or that he would pretend that he cares. But is he pretending...?

Upon reaching the town (after sharing a speeder with Tarq for a few days...and nights) she discovers that Natasha's home and farm have been burned to the ground, with no one in sight. Meanwhile, Tarq, who continued on by request of Lucy, is hassled by a few locals who hate all aliens and want them out of their city—and Tarq is their least favorite, as they see him as nothing but a nasty man whore coming to steal all their women. The men beat Tarq up and take his speeder (which has everything in it, from basic necessities to money). Lucy comes to his rescue, but while she manages to carry our some revenge on the few men who stayed behind, another man took off with all their supplies. Now stranded in the middle of no where, the only place they can run to is the Eradic mountains. Once there, they encounter various beasts that wish to kill them...along with a half a dozen people, including Natasha and her husband, hiding away in a cave. Tarq says that he knows the way out of the mountains—and off the planet—but can he lead the group there safely? And once they arrive to the city, can he convince Lucy that she should stay with him and be his mate—for life?

For many of Brooks' fans, there is nothing sexier than a Zetithian male. Unfortunately, this isn't the case for me. Don't get me wrong—I'm sure Tarq and all the rest of his kind are great men, and sexy as well (to their mates). But for me, their...unusual anatomy, well, it just didn't do it for me. I won't go into details here (if you know the books, you know what I'm referring to; if not, well then the only way you'd find out is from reading one of the books, like I did), but I kept picturing some very odd things while reading those scenes, and frankly none of them were very lust inducing. At least for me! But, 'to each his own' and all that....

I had a hard time connecting with Lucy and Tarq—there was simply something missing, but I can't place my finger on what it was. Honestly, I didn't care much for Lucy, even after the end of the book; I didn't hate her, but I didn't love her either. Basically, she was a bit forgettable, which is never a good thing. Every time she giggled (which was quiet often) I shuddered. It grated on my nerves, as I kept picturing her as this stereotypical blonde (and I don't mean hair color...), giggling and twirling her hair. Sometimes, even when it is not what the author intends, certain words, phrases, and whatnot can lead the reader to picture something (like my vision of Lucy above) that may or may not be true to the character. And yet that is about the only thing that I got from Lucy's character—her giggling. Nothing else stuck. And Tarq, well, he knows how to handle a lot of situations in the wild, which I applaud him for, but beyond that, I'm sad to say that not much of his character stuck either.

Perhaps it is just me. There seems to me many other readers out there that love this book, and this series. But I had issues with it. Perhaps it is due to the fact that I picked up book 8 in the series without first reading the rest of the books. It seems that, according to other readers, reading this series in order makes it a more enjoyable read—not to mention the fact that you will probably understand more of the ongoing plots and whatnot. If this is the case, than maybe my view on the Zetithian's will change after reading the rest of the series. But I won't be taking the time to do that right now—too many books, too little time, and Tarq's magic who-ha just wasn't enough to make me want to run out and buy the other books.

3 STARS! Despite what I've said, Stud wasn't a bad book. It just wasn't, in my opinion, a great book. While I don't regret reading it, I won't be rushing out to pick up the previous books, at least not right now. I was disappointed by what I found between the pages of this book; after all these years, I guess I had built up this high pedestal of how great Brooks' Cat Star novels were, and in the end they just didn't meet my expectations. The romance was a bit lackluster, the characters, at least for this book, forgettable, and the sex was, well, not very passionate. I actually found myself wanting to skip through those scenes, as they seemed to be lacking some key element. If you are already a fan of this series, than perhaps you should disregard my review—you will no doubt find it as enjoyable as you did the previous novels. But if you have not yet read any of these books, and you really wish to, I would suggest starting with book one—don't make my mistake and start a series so late in the game. Even when the books are not strongly interconnected, it never turns out well. I will look for Brooks' other books in the future, but it won't be anytime soon.

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I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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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!

[NetGalley Review]: "The Night is Mine"

2012-01-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

The Night is Mine by M.L. Buchman
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 1, 2012)
Genre: Contemporary Romance--Military
Summary (Amazon.com):
First in a thrilling military romantic suspense series based on the real-life elite helicopter pilots who transport Navy SEALs and Delta Force teams in and out of combat and covert missions. (SOAR are the heroes of Black Hawk Down.)

Buchman's heroine flys the most dangerous military ops and tries to find the one man who can be a hero in her own life. Ace-pilot Captain Emily Beale goes undercover as bodyguard to the First Lady, with her rugged commander, Major Mark Henderson, who is determined to cover her back. Can she learn to keep her desire at bay before her covert mission implodes

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | NOOK

My Review:

What do you get when you combine a high-paced adventure with a sexy SOAR couple and a bit of edge-of-your-seat suspense? One hell of a ride!

Emily Beale, Captain in the rarely heard of SOAR division of the Army, is not a wimpy heroine, nor is she the social butterfly her mother had always hoped for. Instead, she's a tough woman, strong. One who knows what she wants (to fly) and does whatever is needed to accomplish it. As the only woman in a male-dominated career, she's had to work her a$$ off—literally—to get where she is. It's not easy earning the respect of the me she works with. But she's found that a good a$$-kicking or two goes a long way to helping to smooth the road...

I loved Emily's character. She was talented and smart, brave and motivated—she knew what she wanted to do and she didn't let anyone stand in her way. I can respect that. She was also a more complex character, I came to realize,with a few surprises up her sleeves. She's definitely not your typical blonde (no offense to anyone!) nor is she your usual heroine. And yet this fit, because she was herself, pure and simple.

Major Mark Henderson, aka “The Viper”, has a reputation for being tough. He never jokes, he never makes a mistake, and he rarely compliments one of his men—even when they do their job correctly. But Emily brings out all of these things in him. Not a good thing when showing any interest in her can get him court-marshaled! Oh, but it would be so tempting, just to be able to kiss her—just once. But when he does, he realizes that once will never be enough....

Mark was also a good, enjoyable character—he seemed to be a perfect example of the male species: strong, hardworking, brave...and did I mention sexy? Oh yeah, Mark is definitely a keeper! I loved seeing his character struggle to come to terms with his feelings for Emily. I also loved that he took what he wanted and didn't back down from a challenge. Watching him get tossed around by Emily was practically the highlight of the book. It proved that Emily could handle herself, and that Mark had a real soft spot for her, though he'd never back down completely just because of her gender.

The Night is Mine was a fantastic book, full of adventure, action, suspense, and yes, romance—of both the tender and steamy variety! It was a high-paced roller coaster, and one that I didn't wish to leave until the very end. I enjoyed all the back story, details and descriptions that Buchman put into the book, though, yes, there were a few times when said rich details got in the way of the story (few and far between). Even though it is fictional, the story was written with enough attention to details to make me believe, if only for a moment, that I was reading about an actual SOAR team, that I was there with Emil and the rest of the Night Stalkers. It was an interesting storyline for me, and one that I hope to see more from in the coming years!

4 STARS! A wonderful debut of a novel, The Night Is Mine provides all the thrills of a great suspense novel and all the romance one could wish for. M. L. Buchman, you've done a great job at making the Night Stalkers come alive! I shall be looking for future books by this author, as well as recommending this one to any fan of military romances!

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I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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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!

Lusting for Covers (56)

2012-01-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

Here's what you do:

1- Take the graphic (left) to use on your post. Remember to give credit to the original host (TBQ).

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Here's my candidate for the week:

Key of Solomon by Cassiel Knight

Publisher: Samhain Publishing (February 7, 2012)

Summary (Amazon.com):

Anthropology PhD candidate Lexi Harrison never bares it all when she belly dances for a strip club crowd. She doesn’t have to—she’s that good. Every performance earns money toward her degree, and restores the sense of power that her painful childhood ripped away.

Something is different about tonight. A man whose silver gaze seems to touch her skin beneath her veils. When a rowdy customer crosses the line, he comes to her rescue with the speed of a falcon—complete with wings.

Mikos Tyomni has never seen anyone dance the raqs sharqi like Lexi. Trust his tormentor, Archangel Michael, to put him in close contact with the cause of his downfall: a mortal woman. Particularly this mortal woman. The Defender. He has only thirty days to win her trust before Hell’s deadliest demons attempt the mother of all prison breaks.

No matter how sexy the messenger is, Lexi’s career plans don’t include some crazy idea that she’s the last line of defense against the forces of evil. Until her university mentor’s murder leaves her holding the key to Hell. And fighting a losing battle against a passion with the unholy power to bring down Heaven…

Warning: This title contains a dark and sexy fallen angel, bad-ass demons, a heroine with kick-assitude tossed together with mythology, archeology and a shape-shifting rock with a fondness for the gangsters of the 1920s.

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | BN.com | NOOK

Why?
A yummy looking fallen angel on the front cover? Who wouldn't add it to their list straight away?! And the summary makes it sound like a good on to read, I'll be putting it on my list!

[NOR and ARC Review]: "Lucky Penny"

2012-01-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

Lucky Penny by Catherine Anderson
Publisher: Signet (January 31, 2012)
Genre: Historical Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
To support her orphaned niece, impoverished Brianna O'Keefe accepts work with a Colorado rancher. To guard herself from unwanted attention, she resorts to a harmless little lie: that she's married to a Denver gold miner named David Paxton. But when her "husband" shows up, Brianna is stunned-not the least by her desire...

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

My Review:

What length would you go to for the sake of family? Would you live a lie, dig out of trash cans for food, pretend to be someone you're not—all so your promise to a dying relative will be upheld? Brianna O'Keefe has done all of these things, and more, for her “daughter”. And she won't give her up, no matter what!

David Paxton, a small town marshal, is surprised when he is given a bag of mail, all sent from a woman, Brianna Paxton, who claims to be his wife, and Daphne, who is supposed to be his daughter. Problem is, David's never heard of the woman, nor does he have any children. He sure as hell isn't married....unless he got extremely drunk one night during his younger years. What if Daphne really is his? How can he ignore their letters, especially should she prove to be his? He sets off to find out the truth—but nothing could have prepared him for what he'd find in Glory Ridge. Brianna, though a bit prim-and-proper, is a beauty and sweet Daphne has the Paxton looks, right down to the birthmark on the neck. So how is it that Brianna can look him in the eye and tell him he's not her father?

Brianna made a promise to her twin, Moira, when she was on her deathbed. She would raise Daphne as her own, caring for her like she would a child from her own womb. She's kept this vow all these years, and nobody else knows the truth. But when David Paxton, her made-up husband, suddenly appears at her doorstep, her life of lies is in jeopardy. Though she won't admit it to David, she can't deny the overwhelming family resemblance between Daphne and David—but Brianna knows better. He's not the father of her dead sister's child. But then how does one explain the looks? Or David's determination to claim her as his own and Brianna as his real wife?

There is more to this story than what is appears, and only after the details are told and the lies picked out can we see the whole truth—and some of it will come as a surprise, even to Brianna!

The storyline for Lucky Penny was unique and very well done. I couldn't help but feel for Brianna and Daphne after reading of their hard life. I wanted David to be Daphne's dad, even though I knew it was impossible (biologically, that is). But this story taught Daphne, Brianna, and us readers as well, one very important thing—family and love is not determined solely by blood.

David, though a bit tough around the edges, was a true gentleman, very responsible and caring, even when the truth of the child's family gets out. He wasn't perfect, but his few flaws helped to make him who he is.

Brianna was a bit of an annoyance at times, yet in the end I found myself wanting to applaud her for everything she did for Daphne. She tried to act very proper, but beneath all her starched layers lay a fiery woman. I wish we could have seen more of her strong side, but I was still glad that it showed up the few times it did. Otherwise, I would have been hard pressed to find something about her to like, as her paranoia about David and his plans for them was enough to make me want to slap her a few times. I can understand her being cautious, but she took it to the extreme, and for far too long. But, despite this flaw, she wasn't too bad as far as heroines go.

It was lovely watching David and Brianna slowly fall for one another. It took time, and up until the last few chapters it wasn't a passionate love by any means. However, it did fit their characters, and therefore seemed more real than forced love or a quick roll in the hay that then miraculously turns into “love”. I do wish there had been more to the romance part of their story, but I wasn't completely disappointed, so I can't complain too much.

4 STARS! Sweet and charming, Lucky Penny is an entertaining novel. Full of romance, family, and a couple finding love despite all the obstacles they put in the way, Lucky Penny is a joy to read. Ms. Anderson has managed to once again bring the Old West to life, complete with charming heroes and strong heroines. I definitely plan on reading more by this author! Lucky Penny may be tamer than most of my normal romance picks, but it still managed to warm me up!

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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!

[NOR Review]: "Spliced"

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Spliced by Robin Leigh Miller
Publisher: Ellora's Cave (December 9, 2011)
Genre: Contemporary Erotica/Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
For ten years, Avery Easton has quietly lusted after her twin brother’s best friend, Ridge Gates. When the cruel, cold hand of fate takes her brother’s life, Avery and Ridge turn to each other in grief and share a night of ecstasy. But mind-blowing sex with the man of her dreams can’t push away Avery’s reality.Violent and terrifying events have followed her brother’s body home and introduced Avery to another man…one who’s willing to give her everything she needs. And then there’s the secret she harbors that could tear her and Ridge apart even as it connects them for the rest of their lives.A promise on the battlefield led Ridge straight into the arms of the woman he knows he has no business being with, but can’t stay away from. If he fails to come to terms with his broken body and Avery’s revelations, he could lose her forever—if not to another man, then to the violence that brought Ridge and Avery together.

Where to Buy*: Kindle | NOOK | Ellora's Cave | All Romance
More Info: Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt

My Review:

WARNING - The reading of this book will cause some side effects, including, but not limited to: crying, screaming (both in pain and pleasure), sighing, laughing, and, most importantly, the overwhelming need to sneak off for some “alone time” and take care of all the built up...tension Be warned—it's probably best not to read Spliced in public, unless you wish to be asked by random strangers why you are sweating, panting, and crossing your legs! (Not that I would know...)

Avery Easton has a secret—well, okay two. First, she has a special connection with her twin brother, Cale that allows her to feel what he's feeling, as well as send and receives simple thoughts. Her other secret? She's in love with Cale's best friend, Ridge—and has been for the last 10 years, though he doesn't seem to see it.

Ridge Gates is a grunt, a mere soldier fighting for his country. But as honorable as his job is, in his mind he will never be good enough for the one woman he wants—Avery. From the moment he met her, he's wanted her—and not just for a one-night stand either, which scares the hell out of him. But she's his buddy's sister, and therefore off limits, not to mention the fact that she deserves better. He would give anything to be good enough to claim her, but instead he keeps his distance.

That is until one night in Dover. After a mission goes south, leaving Ridge broken (mentally and physically) and Cale dead, Avery needs someone to turn to—and the only one she has is Ridge. Finally, after a decade of unfulfilled wanting, the two come together in a night of scorching passion, bringing each other the comfort they need as well as the pleasure they've desired.

Upon waking the next morning, Avery finds herself alone in the hotel room. Ridge, unable to deal with his nightmares from the day of the bombing—and his guilt over not being good enough for Avery—leaves during the night, even though the only thing he wants to do is stay with Avery and never let her go.
Avery can't deal with the loss; she's just buried her only family, her beloved brother, and now she's been pushed aside by the one man (she thought) she had in her life: Ridge. After the best sex in her life, nonetheless! A woman, no matter how strong she is, can only take so much, and this proves to be too much. She refuses to fall for Ridge again. She may love him, heart and soul, but until he can handle it and stay by her side when she needs him the most, she isn't going to put her heart on the line…Again. Nope, she may sleep with him (in the dressing room of a store, in the shower, against the wall...) but she won't beg him to stay.

As if their tangled emotional relationship wasn't enough to contend with, there is someone after Avery. They won't stop until they find what they think she has—and they want her dead when it's over. Can Ridge push past his personal demons and prove to himself, and Avary, that he can be there for her? Or will he push her away instead...and risk losing her…Forever.

Wow. I'm speechless—literally speechless. Spliced was, quite simply, one hell of a roller-coaster—and easily my favorite book of 2012. Maybe of all time—ever! Within the first few pages, I was hooked, and I couldn't walk away even if I had wanted to. And believe me: I didn't want to.

Spliced is pure perfection: steamy, emotional and gripping!

If you enjoy a steamy hot romance, Spliced is the perfect book to reach for. The chemistry between Avery and Ridge was beautifully done—and so hot that the mere sparks from it will burn you! I have read a lot of explicit romance novels, but none have made me feel like this before. I was actually aching, wanting a Ridge of my own to walk through my door—right now, damn it! Thigh-clenching, sweaty, orgasmic bliss awaits you within the pages of this book! And yet, despite all the sex, the scenes never came off as cheap or pornographic. This was due to the connection and emotions pulsing through the hero and heroine, making it more than just sex.

Talk about an emotional ride—Spliced had me crying within a few pages, along with a few sessions of tears later on. I felt like I was connected to this story, not merely reading about it. I was there with Ridge and Cale in Afghanistan; I was there with Ridge and Avery at the graveside, and I was there while they worked through their feelings for each other. My gut was tied in so many knots as I followed the heart-breaking story of Avery and Ridge's romance. It was messy, it was chaotic, it was intense—but it was so real, so tangible, that I kept looking around, waiting for Avery to walk through the room, head held high despite all the pain and problems she has to deal with. I hated how every time one of them was hurt I felt it too, felt my heart break alongside theirs. And yet I loved every minute of it, because it is a rare occasion when a book manages to illicit such a response from me. Congratulations, Robin—you not only manged to do this, you excelled at it!

This novel left me drained, physically and emotionally. And I mean that as a good thing! I literally had to take breaks every so often because the story and the characters were so real and griping that I would find myself feeling slightly sick from all the built up tension. But as soon as the feeling would go away, I'd quickly pick up my NOOK again, eager to find out what was going to happen next, how their relationship was going to turn out—where they'd consummate their love for each other at again...

5 STARS! Robin Leigh Miller, you have yourself a new fan for life! I'm still reeling from the emotional and passionate battle that Spliced waged on me, and yet at the same time I can't wait to pick up more of your novels! I loved this book so much it's going on my favorites list for good, and I plan on re-reading it as soon as I come down from this virtual high that it has left me in. I hope that Officer Stone gets his own story, as I was sad to see him all alone (though I knew Ridge was the only one for Avery). There are not enough words in the dictionary to accurately capture my feelings on Spliced, but I will say this: I've enjoyed countless books over the years. I've loved quite a few. But Spliced may be the only one I have ever fallen for so hard, with my heart, soul, and body all tied up in the gut-wrenching story that is Avery and Ridge. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. Now! You won't regret it. But be prepared—grab a box of tissues, a pitcher of ice water, and a quiet corner. Then settle yourself in, because this is going to be one hell of a ride—and one that you won't want to take a rest from until the very end!

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

Don't forget that Robin will be here on the blog Feb 1st (for an interview) and Feb 2nd (guest post). Robin will also be giving away one copy of Spliced to a lucky reader! :D

I selected this post to be featured on http://www.bookreviewblogs.com/. Please visit the site and vote for my blog!

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!

What Did I Receive?

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

I should never have signed up for NetGalley...I am pretty sure that it is going to be the straw that broke my back. LOL.

Case in point, look at what I got just today (after going on a long request binge last night--so many great books are available on there, don't you know!) And the sad thing is...I requested more than the four listed below. These four are just the ones that I have received an answer back on. Oh, my TBR mountain is going to topple any day now, I know it!

~*~*~

For Review:

Untouched by Sara Humphreys
ARC E-book, courtesy of NetGalley

The Wolf Who Loved Me by Lydia Dare
ARC E-book, courtesy of NetGalley

The Night is Mine by M.L. Buchman
E-book, courtesy of NetGalley
*I just had this one this week's L4C and then I found it on NG--It's a sign, I tell you!*

Stud by Cheryl Brooks
E-Book, courtesy of NetGalley
(Okay, I need to read the first books in this series really quickly; I'm debating on buying them right now for my NOOK....)

~*~*~
What about you--What did you get in the mail this week? Or on your e-reader? Did you break down and buy any or did you do like I did and go on a NetGalley binge? :D Let me know!

I'm sure I bought a few books for my NOOK this past week too (free ones), but I can't remember for sure.

All I know is that I have a lot of books to read--and a lot to review!

However, I have to say I have been pretty good this year (so far). I've read 6 books and wrote a review for each one! Now, only one or two of those reviews have been posted yet, but that is due to publication dates and what not, not me being behind. So cross you fingers and hope that I keep up the good work; if so, my review pile will be down to zero in no time! :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!

Lusting for Covers (55)

2012-01-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

Here's what you do:

1- Take the graphic (left) to use on your post. Remember to give credit to the original host (TBQ).

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here's my candidate for the week:

The Night is Mine by M.L. Buchman

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 1, 2012)

Summary (Amazon.com):

First in a thrilling military romantic suspense series based on the real-life elite helicopter pilots who transport Navy SEALs and Delta Force teams in and out of combat and covert missions. (SOAR are the heroes of Black Hawk Down.)

Buchman's heroine flys the most dangerous military ops and tries to find the one man who can be a hero in her own life. Ace-pilot Captain Emily Beale goes undercover as bodyguard to the First Lady, with her rugged commander, Major Mark Henderson, who is determined to cover her back. Can she learn to keep her desire at bay before her covert mission implodes

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | BN.com | NOOK

Why?

Lately I've had a hankering for a good military-type hero. Don't know what it is about a sexy man in a uniform, defending us from the bad guys that gets me, but it does! This new series looks like it will be another great one, if the cover alone is anything to go by! :D

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

Upcoming Posts, Blog Tours and Giveaways!

2012-01-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

Image from Google, not mine.
Okay, who snuck into my
house and took this picture?
I swear, this is the exact
picture of my TBR mountain! :D

Hi everyone!

As you may have noticed, my sidebar is practically filled with upcoming blog tour dates, and as the dates quickly approach, I figure I should give you a bit of a calendar overview of what's coming up.

Get our your pen and write down these dates--you won't want to miss out on all the fun I have planned!

~*~*~*~

February:

Feb. 1st:
Interview with Spliced author, Robin Leigh Miller. Giveaway for a copy of Spliced will also begin on this day, provided by Robin.

Feb. 2nd:
Guest Post with Robin Leigh Miller. Topic: Unknown (for now)

Feb. 10th:
Guest Post with Rebecca Royce, featuring her newest release, Love Beyond Loyalty. Topic: "The Making of a Hero: Creating a Man the Reader will Love"

Feb. 23rd:
Guest Post with Ruthie Knox, featuring her new release, Ride with Me. Guest Post Topic: Banter between the hero and heroine = romance novel foreplay. :D
Giveaway: One winner will receive a copy of Ride with Me.

March:

Mar 1st:
Guest Post with Carrie Ann Ryan, featuring her newest release, A Taste for a Mate.
Topic: Writing about mates: making the love and connection visible rather than just all about sex and predestined fate.

Mar 5th:
Author Interview with Isabo Kelly, featuring her newest release, Bright Arrow Burning.

Mar 22nd:
Author Interview with Kacey Hammell, featuring her newest release, Illusions.

Mar 26th:
Review tour for Bright Arrow Burning.

Upcoming Reviews

(Exact Dates Unknown; Listed in No Particular Order)

~Lucky Penny by Catherine Anderson (NOR + ARC)
~Spliced by Robin Leigh Miller (NOR)
~Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott (NetGalley + ARC)
~Ride with Me by Ruthie Knox (ARC)
~Love Beyond Loyalty by Rebecca Royce (ARC)
~When a Scot Loves a Lady by Katharine Ashe (NOR, NetGalley, and ARC)
~Bright Arrow Burning by Isabo Kelly
~A Taste for a Mate by Carrie Ann Ryan
~Lost In Time by Melissa de la Cruz (NOR)
~The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway (NOR)
~The Saint by Monica McCarty (NOR + ARC)

....and many, many more that I am behind on!

~*~*~*~

Wow--I think that is the most I've had planned for this blog in a long, long time! It's not going to be easy, but I enjoy a good challange, and I really want to get caught up on my reviews and what not.

So be sure to check back for all the posts, giveaways, and reviews that will be up over the next few months. And who knows? Maybe I'll have a few more to add to this list before the end of March!

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!

Lusting for Covers (54)

2012-01-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

Here's what you do:

1- Take the graphic (left) to use on your post. Remember to give credit to the original host (TBQ).

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here's my candidate for the week:

Darkest Highlander by Donna Grant

Series: The Dark Sword, 6

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (Jan. 31, 2012)

Summary (Amazon.com)

In the acclaimed Dark Sword series, the darkest, fiercest warriors of Scottish legend finally meet their match—in the brave, fiery hearts of the women they cherish…

For years, Broc has watched over her, protected her—and hidden his love for her. But when his beautiful Sonya, finds herself in a hopeless situation, the Highlander flies to her side to save her. Unfortunately, before the Druidess can thank him, Broc is captured by his enemy and destined for eternal pain…

Sonya vows to help her noble warrior, though he is imprisoned in a mountain of pure evil—bound in chains of the darkest magic. With Sonya’s own magic fading, she must summon the greatest power of all to save the man she loves. But even if these two hearts are united, will they be strong enough to defeat the heart of darkness? Or will their undying love doom them for all eternity…?

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

Why?

A) It's got Highlanders in the book!

B) It's got a Highlander on the cover!

C) Is there a need for a 'C'?!

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

[Review]: "A Dangerous Beauty"

2012-01-05T02:00:00.000-07:00

A Dangerous Beauty by Sophia Nash
Publisher: Avon (May 29, 2007)
Series: The Widow's Club, 1
Genre: Historical Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
Love, n. A temporary insanity curable by marriage or by the removal of the patient from the influences under which he incurred the disorder.

The Devil's Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce

A Courageous Outcast . . .

Rosamunde Baird has lost everything and has no choice but to accept an invitation to spend a season with a dowager duchess and her clandestine ladies club. Determined to stay in the shadows and live quietly, she has sworn never again to come face to face with adventure and temptation, two things that brought her ruin years ago. But then the Duke of Helston dangles before her the very things she craves most . . .

Lord Fire and Ice . . .

Mysterious Luc St. Aubyn has a much-deserved reputation for exuding blistering passion at night and frost the morning after. What demons drive this audacious war hero to hide secrets about the dowager's club and his devilish dictionary? When he's blindsided by his reactions to a virtuous siren, he has no choice but to reveal all during a scandal that will doom them . . . or save them, if only they dare to believe in love.

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 2: The Kiss

Book 3: Love with the Perfect Scoundrel

Book 4: Secrets of a Scandalous Bride

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

My Review:

Not many books can make me laugh and sigh at the same time. Very few books make me want to re-read them—right after finishing the last page! But A Dangerous Beauty is such a book!

Charming, witty, funny and passionate—this romance novel has it all! I found myself laughing, actually laughing, many times during my reading of it. And when I wasn't laughing at some witty sentence or remark, I was sighing over the romance. Luc and Rosamunde perfect for one another—her is a sarcastic cynic, she a disgraced widow that society (and her family) shunned long ago. They both have their issues, and they both need to heal.

I applaud Rosamunde for surviving all the troubles her husband caused. And I was glad to see her finally realize she didn't need to hide from the world, that she had done nothing to be ashamed of. Watching her fall for Luc, something that scares her more than life with her husband ever did, was truly magical.

Luc had a sense of humor that I loved—perhaps because I can relate to it, being very sarcastic myself. I would have loved to see him in action, insulting many of the people of the ton without them even realizing it! The quotes from his book were simply divine—very witty as well!

I had this book in my TBR pile for years, and for the life of me I can't figure out why I never picked it up before now. It ended up being one of those rare books where as soon as I completed it, I wanted to turn to page one and start over, savoring it yet again. I don't re-read very many books, both due to lack of wanting to and lack of time, but I have no doubt this one will be a re-read for me in the near future!

4.5 STARS! Deliciously wicked, charming and funny, A Dangerous Beauty is a wonderful start to a series I look forward to returning to. I simply loved Ata, Luc's clever (and outspoken) grandmother, and I wish to see what troubles she brews up in future Widow's Club novels. Sophia Nash has done a terrific job of writing a romance novel that is not only passionate but oh so much more! I shall be adding more of Ms. Nash's books to my list as soon as possible—and I suggest you do the same as well!

~*~*~
This book was one that I bought myself (some years ago) and choose to review on my own.
~*~*~

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!

[NetGalley Review]: "Avenger's Angel"

2012-01-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

Avenger's Angel by Heather Killough-Walden
Publisher: Signet (November 1, 2011)
Series: Lost Angels Series, 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
When four female angels were created for the archangels Michael, Gabriel, Uriel and Azrael, a chaos spurned by jealousy erupted, and the archesses were secreted to Earth. The four favored archangels followed, prompting a search that has lasted millennia. But for Uriel, the former Archangel of vengeance, the search ends the moment he lays eyes on Eleanor Granger, his one true archess. Can he protect her from the danger lying in wait for her - and win her 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 2: Messenger's Angel
(June 2012, cover not yet revealed)

Book 3: Death's Angel
(November 2012, cover not yet revealed)

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

My Review:

What do you get when you mix wickedly sexy (fallen) angels, high-paced (and vivid) action, to-die-for romance (in bed and out!) and a very unique and interesting storyline together? One hell of a ride—and a book you won't want to put down! Pray for your soul now because after reading Avenger's Angel, you'll want to sin—with an archangel, no less!

Avenger's Angel is the first in a new series; if this book is any indication, it is going to be a favorite series of mine! I couldn't stop reading, the characters and unique storyline kept me glued to the edge of my seat .I had to know what was going to happen next, how everything was going to end—and of course I was anxious to see how Uriel and Ellie's first intimate encounter was going to go! What? It is a romance novel!

But as much as I enjoyed this tale, I was upset about one thing—the end. Why did it have to end—and why must I wait so long for Gabe's story? In regards to any book, this “problem” is a good thing; it meas the author has successfully grabbed your attention, made you want to step inside the book's world and never come out. Congratulations, Ms. Killough-Walden, you succeeded with this reader!

The descriptions in this novel are superbly done—very vivid, very lush and detailed. All the action scenes seemed to pop right out of the pages. Suddenly the characters were in front of my eyes, battling to the death, as if I was watching it rather than reading it. They were as dramatic as any movie, the scenes full of enough action to keep my heart racing till the very end!

And the romance—oh my! I never thought an archangel could be so wicked, yet still so angelic and good, at the same time! The love between Uriel and his long-lost archess was tangible, building as the story went along. And while the sexual tension ran high (almost from page one) their passionate night didn't occur until much later in the book. Despite the fact that they were destined to be mates (Ellie was literally created for Uriel), they didn't simply meet and then jump into bed—or into love. This helped to make the romance not only enjoyable, but believable.

I also appreciated the light humor in this tale. It wasn't heavy, nor constant, but it still showed up and made the book that much better. I couldn't help but chuckle every time the phrase “the Old Man” showed up in the book (their nickname for God). I know, I know—I'm a bad person for doing that, I'm sure laughing at the nickname is sacrilegious. But I liked this name, as it fit the story being told and didn't make it sound like a religious tale in any way.

4.5 STARS! A breathtaking look into the world of the archangels, Avenger's Angel is an amazing start to a new series, and one that I will be putting on my auto-buy list! I especially look forward to Gabe's story (Two words: Scottish Accent!), as well as learning more about Samael—who doesn't appear to be as bad as everyone believes... If you enjoy unique paranormal stories, then Avenger's Angel is the right book for you!

~~~
Thanks to NetGalley, where I received this e-book for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!)
~~~

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!

And the Winner Is....

2012-01-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

Before I get to the winner, I'd like to thank everyone who stopped by and enter my Holiday Giveaway. I hope to be able to hold more giveaways like this in the future, so stay tuned!

Finally, to the part you are really interested in....

...And the winner is.....

Angela M!

Angela will soon be the proud owner of her own copy of "Oceans of Fire" by Christine Feehan. Congratulations, Angela! I will be sending an email off to you later today (or, if you see this before I do you can email me first); you have 48 hours to respond back with your mailing information. If I do not hear from you by that point, I will choose another winner.

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!

[NetGalley and ARC Review]: "Rogue Pirate's Bride"

2012-01-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

Rogue Pirate's Bride by Shana Galen
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 7, 2012)
Series: The Sons of the Revolution, 3

Genre: Historical Romance

Summary (Amazon.com):

Passionate, action-packed Regency romance by RT Reviewer's Choice award-winning author Shana Galen features the swashbuckling Sebastien Harcourt, Marquis de Valere, and the nautical genius heroine destined to best him. After escaping France on a privateer's ship, Sebastian becomes the notorious privateer Captain Cutlass. His reputation as a rogue precedes him and he's undefeated in battle, until he crosses swords with the beautiful daughter of a British admiral. Raven Russell is out for revenge, but now she's not so sure she wants the dashing captain to change his wicked ways.

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 Making of a Duchess

Book 2: The Making of a Gentleman

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

My Review:

Raeven Russell is anything but a meek Society miss. As the daughter of a British Admiral, she's grown up on board various ships; now she's more comfortable at sea than in the most elegant ballroom in London. Rather than wearing fancy ball gowns and silk slippers she prefers boy's clothing and comfortable boots. She spends more time getting into trouble than anything else, and when she's not she's merely planning her next adventure—which will no doubt end in her being in trouble. No, Raeven is not your typical woman, but she is the perfect heroine, strong and brave, smart and witty.

Bastien, known to the world as the infamous Captain Cutlass, is believed by everyone to be a pirate, a rogue of the first order....and for the most part, they would be right. However, he is more than just a privateer sailing under Spain; he is the Marquis de Valere. Growing up in France during the Revolution, he lost his family at a very young age. His father was publicly executed by the lower class, and his mother, older brother, and twin brother were in their home when they burned it down (at least that is what everyone thought). Due to his habit of sneaking out of bed at that age, he was not inside when the chaos began, and escaped with a family servant. But after all these years, he blames himself in some small way for not being able to save them, for not being in their with them and dying alongside them.

Now, through hard work and dedication he has built up a loyal crew, a fine speed ship, and a profitable, if not always legal, business at sea. Really, what more could he ask for? Except for perhaps a woman as amazing as Raeven, one that can stand by him during even the most dangerous of adventures and barely bat an eye, little loan faint like all the other ladies he's ever met. But how can he offer such a special woman marriage when he has no home to give her, no family, no promises of a stable and safe life?

Rogue Pirate's Bride starts out with a bang: Raeven is off on another one of her adventures, dressed as a man, and entering a tavern in search of Cutlass. Her plan is to kill him, as revenge for him killing her fiancee a few months back. She has no qualms with killing the man...until she sees him. Until her body starts to react to him, and not in the way she wants (the “I'm-going-to-kill-you-way”) but rather in the “I-want-to-kiss-you-all-over-way”. Determined to put aside her desire for the dashing captain, she pushes forward, her entire purpose being to kill him. But despite her initial determination for revenge, she soon starts to realize that she can't kill this man; he has a special hold on her, and she doesn't have the stomach for spilling his blood. But if she can't kill him, then what can she do? Kiss him of course—over and over again!

Bastien is not too concerned when Raeven first approaches him, set on killing him for a previous attack that was not his fault. It wouldn't be the first time someone has been out for his blood; though it is the first time a young woman, dressed as a man, has been! Still, he knows she won't do it; not that he doesn't believe she could, after seeing how fiery she is he has no doubt about that, but he can already see that there is an attraction between them, a strong one, that is slowly breaking down her thirst for his blood, and is instead replacing it with a hunger for his touch. As he feels much the same way, he won't complain one bit!

It's been a while since I've read one of Galen's novels. But as soon as I began reading Rogue Pirate's Bride, it all came rushing back to me—the reason why I love her work. Not only does Galen manage to write a sexy romance story, but she also excels at witty banter between the characters (especially the hero and heroine), along with exciting adventures and surprising mysteries lurking at every corner! But perhaps the best reason of all is that she always writes about heroines that the reader can sympathize with and enjoy, ones that are strong and do not back down, even when faced with the sometimes stubborn hero. In other words, if you want a perfect historical romance book to cuddle up with, you can't do any better than Shana Galen!

4.5 Stars! Rogue Pirate's Bride has everything I've come to expect from Ms. Galen, and so much more! Fast-paced action keeps the story going from page one, and I don't recall there ever being a dull moment along the way. Bastien and Raeven belong together, and I felt that their love story was both believable and yet fantastical enough to leave the reader dreaming about it long after the last page has been turned, wishing for their own Bastien to love. Bastien's story concludes the Sons of the Revolution series; I have yet to read Armand and Julien's stories, but I plan on doing so now. If you want a steamy, witty, and adventurous romance novel, look no further than this book!

~~~
Thanks to NetGalley, where I received this eARC for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!)
~~~

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

Lusting for Covers (53)

2012-01-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year's Everyone!

May the rest of your holiday be wonderful, surrounded by friends and family!

I know it's been a whole year since I did a L4C post and I'm truly sorry about that. However, I do know that a few of you continued with the meme anyway-thank you to those that did, even if I didn't comment on every post, I still saw them!

To celebrate the New Year, here is the first Lusting for Covers post for 2012; I hope you love it as much as I do!

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

Here's what you do:

1- Take the graphic (left) to use on your post. Remember to give credit to the original host (TBQ).

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here's my candidate for the week:

FrostFire by Zoe Marriott

Publisher: Walker (July 5th, 2012) *UK edition*
Summary (Author's Blog):
Frost is cursed - possessed by a wolf demon that brings death everywhere she goes. Desperate to find a cure, she flees her home, only to be captured by the Ruan Hill Guard. Trapped until she can prove she is not an enemy, Frost grows increasingly close to the Guard’s charismatic leader Luca and his second in command, the tortured Arian. Torn between two very different men, Frost fears that she may not be able to protect either of them ... from herself.

Where to Buy*: Currently there is no links working to buy it as it is set to release so far in advance. This is for the UK edition, no news yet on US cover or release date.

More Info: Author's Site | Book Site |
~My Review for Daughter of the Flames
~My Review for The Swan Kingdom

Why?
I think, hands down, this is the most AMAZING cover I've ever seen! It may be the UK edition, but I don't care; with Zoe's books, the best covers have always been the UK ones, so I'll get my hands on this one as well, one way or another! And the storyline--well, I loved Daughter of the Flames, and this is a companion novel to it, so I'm very anxious to read it! I know it will be great; that's just the way Marriott's books are, no matter if you are a teen or an older woman--trust me!

I selected this post to be featured on http://www.bookreviewblogs.com/. Please visit the site and vote for my blog!

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

Read in 2011 List

2011-12-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

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)

~*~*~*~*~

To view my ratings for each of these books, please feel free to visit my LibraryThing "Read in 2011" list. The books will not be listed on there in the same order, but you should be able to easily track a specific one down. *Hint, try to organize them by clicking on "title"; then they will appear alphabetically by the title*

Slideshow of Book Covers (Jan-June):

Slideshow of Book Covers (July-Dec):

I hope to read many more books in 2012 (before the world ends, you know! *wink*). I also plan on posting more reviews, not just for those that are sent to me for reviewing but also more of the books I buy on my own.

Oh, and I already have a few author guest posts and interviews set up (as part of a blog tour) for Feb. and March---most will have giveaways involved as well as my review on their newest release, so please make a note to stop by (Feb. 10, Feb. 23, March 26th, to name a few dates...).

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year's--be safe, have fun, and don't do anything too crazy! :D

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

[NOR Review]: "Highlander's Heart"

2011-12-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

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

Book 3: True Highland Spirit

(March 2012)

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!

[NOR and ARC Review]: "Sunrise with a Notorious Lord"

2011-12-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

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!

[NOR and ARC Review]: "Mad About the Earl"

2011-12-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

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!

Reminder: Holiday Giveaway!

2011-12-26T14:19:00.000-07:00

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!

[NOR and ARC Review]: "A Lady Awakened"

2011-12-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

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

Newly widowed and desperate to protect her estate and beloved servants from her malevolent brother-in-law, Martha Russell conceives a daring plan. Or rather, a daring plan to conceive. After all, if she has an heir on the way, her future will be secured. Forsaking all she knows of propriety, Martha approaches her neighbor, a London exile with a wicked reputation, and offers a strictly business proposition: a month of illicit interludes . . . for a fee.

Theophilus Mirkwood ought to be insulted. Should be appalled. But how can he resist this siren in widow’s weeds, whose offer is simply too outrageously tempting to decline? Determined she’ll get her money’s worth, Theo endeavors to awaken this shamefully neglected beauty to the pleasures of the flesh—only to find her dead set against taking any enjoyment in the scandalous bargain. Surely she can’t resist him forever. But could a lady’s sweet surrender open their hearts to the most unexpected arrival of all . . . love?

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.

~~~
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!

[NOR Review]: "All About Seduction"

2011-12-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

All About Seduction by Katy Madison
Publisher: Avon (October 25, 2011)
Genre: Historical Romace
Summary (Amazon.com):
She had never known passion like this…
Caroline Broadhurst is about to take a lover— at her husband’s command. For fifteen years, Caroline has done everything her much older husband has desired—except provide an heir. Now he has given her an ultimatum: seduce a suitable gentleman and bear a son. Caroline would never think of bowing to such a shameful order, but then she meets Jack Applegate.
Jack has longed for the beautiful, untouchable Caroline for years, but the chasm between them was too wide to ever dream of crossing. Now, fate and passion have thrown them together, but the potential scandal threatens to smother their love. And when a violent secret comes to light, only a terrible sacrifice will prevent the flame of their affection from being snuffed out forever . . .

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

My Review:

Caroline Broadhurst gave up everything for the sake of her family. When she was just 15 years old, she was married off—to a wealthy mill owner who was old enough to be her grandfather. For years now she has suffered his attentions. And worse she's never once gotten pregnant from them, the one thing she's always wanted. Suddenly her husband's health begins to take a turn for the worse, and with his age he worries that soon he will no longer be around. He wants an heir to continue his business and his name. There is just one problem: though he won't admit it to anyone else, he's sterile, something he has had to accept after three young wives over a span of three or four decades and no children from any of them. Determined to have a child, even if it won't technically be of his blood, he forces Caroline to choose a man (out of the ones he has picked out) and seduce him, and to keep doing so until she finds herself pregnant.

Jack Applegate is just a lowly mill worker for Mr. Broadhurst. But from the first day that he saw Caroline, back when she was a new bride, he's dreamed of a life with her—if only he had more to offer her. With no money, no home, no real future, how could he hope to win her over, little loan support her? When an unfortunate mill accident lands him on his back with a crushed ankle, he never would have guessed that Caroline may secretly have some feelings for him too—why else would she fight with her husband to keep Jack up at the main house until he has recovered? But while he's there he notices her flirting with the many gentlemen that are staying for the hunt, and he begins to wonder if perhaps he was wrong about the type of woman she is...

When she finally tells him the truth, he offers to help her; he may be injured, but, as he clearly reminds her, it is only his leg that is not working properly anymore. He's been dreaming of this for years, and now he finally has it: Caroline in his bed. But it's nowhere near what he dreamed of. Disgusted by the act, as well as used to the pain that it has caused her over the years, she is determined to use him only for his seed. No touching, no exploring, no kissing. It should sound like every man's dream experience, but in reality it's almost enough to make a man lose his excitement. Can he show Caroline that what they are doing is not a sin, and that when it is with someone you love it can be enjoyable?

From page one, I had a very hard time getting into this book. I hated the storyline, the romance was completely MIA, and the secondary characters had more substance than the hero and heroine. For the first time in a while, I honestly was waiting for the book to end before it had even really begun. But I had hopes that it would improve, that it would get better. My hopes were in vain; as much as I hate to say such a thing, I truly disliked this novel.

Even though I am sure there are such husbands out there, especially during Caroline's time, who would plan such a horrible thing, forcing their wife to have sex with random men, such a storyline is not one for a romance novel. I don't know of any reader that wants such a storyline, no matter how (slightly) realistic it might be, in their love stories. No matter how talented the author, no matter the reason behind such a plot, no matter the characters in the book—it will never work, and All About Seduction proves that.

But I could have dealt with the plot line if there had been more substance to the characters. Though the story was told mainly through Caroline's point of view, I never connected with her. By the end of the novel, she was still just a woman's name that kept appearing on the page. She wasn't a strong heroine, she never once stood up for herself, and she brought nothing to the story, at least as far as helping the readers to enjoy it more. We never once gained any insight into her personal life, her thoughts and feelings and memories, the things that make her who she is. Nope, instead we just get the basics, through conversations with other people mainly: that she was married young, has other siblings, etc. The most emotion we ever get out of her is when her disgust for the martial act shows through, and even that is weak. I want a strong heroine in my romance novel, one that seems to leap off the page and into the room next to me, not one that vanishes into the ink of the book and never shows herself.

Jack wasn't much better. I had a hard time picturing him as the hero of this story. Sure, he seemed like a nice enough guy, one who wanted a better life and such, but his character was also lacking. He sounded more like the young teenager who has a crush on an older woman, even though the two are near the same age. I didn't get where his obsession with her came from, nor his sudden love for her later in the book. I wasn't rooting for him, hoping he would have his happily ever after with Caroline. In fact, due to the lack of character building and substance, I wouldn't have cared if Caroline had been stuck with Mr. Broadhurst her entire life and Jack had been forced to return to the beat up worker's cottage. That is simply not the response one wants to hear from the reader, nor is it what the reader wants to say, especially when it is a romance novel.

2 STARS! A flawed book, in my opinion, and one that confused me: how can it be listed as a romance novel when I saw no hint of such a thing in the entire book? Perhaps, for some readers out there, this book will provide an entertaining read. But not for me. I'm unsure if I will pick up future books by this author, because the writing and characters were lacking so much in this one. All About Seduction is missing all of the key elements that a good romance needs: loveable characters, an interesting plot, lively banter and, most importantly, romance. Lacking in both heat and tenderness, the “romance” in this one was unlike any I've ever read—and sadly that is not meant in a good way. This is one of those rare books I read where after turning the last page I'm not in any way upset over the fact that it is over.

~~~
Thanks to Night Owl Reviews, where I received this book 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!

Holiday Giveaway!

2011-12-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

It's almost Christmas, and I'm in a sharing mood! So I am going to give away....

A new print copy of Oceans of Fires by Christine Feehan to one lucky reader!

Why this book? Well, I posted my review of Feehan's newest release, Spirit Bound recently and for those of you that have not yet had the chance to read her work, or haven't read this particular book yet, I'd like to share it with you.

This giveaway is a fairly easy one to enter. Here are the rules for entering:

~ You MUST leave a comment on this post--with your email address--to be entered. Any other entries are optional, but this one is mandatory.

~ Then fill out the Rafflecopter below, even if all you do is leave a comment.

Note: Although I won't be offering extra entries for it this time, it's always nice to share: if you don't have a twitter, then share the giveaway info and link via Facebook, your blog, or other websites you frequent. As they say, sharing is caring! :D

The giveaway will run until the end of the year, Dec. 31st, and the cutoff time for entries is just before midnight on that night.

I will then post the winner within 3 days. I will send one email to the winner that day and they have ONE WEEK to respond with their mailing address. If they do not do so within that one week, I will redraw another winner, repost it, and send an email to the new winner (after which the same above one week time limit applies).

Unfortunately I must limit this giveaway to only US and Canada residents. No P.O. Boxes please!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

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!

What Did I Receive?

2011-12-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

This week was a pretty good one; an unexpected delivery and a lot of FREE books for my NOOK. :) What more could I ask for?

For Review:

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Courtesy of Harlequin Teen Panel

Won:

None.

Bought:

*Note: The following books were bought on BN.com for my NOOK. At the time of my purchase, they were all listed as FREE e-books. This may not be the case anymore. They also may or may not, be FREE on Amazon. The cover links to the BN page, the title links to the Amazon.*

Triple Threat by Jennifer Labrecque

Honor Bound by C.J. Archer

Dance of the Seven Veils by Cris Anson

Bound for the Holidays by Mackenzie McKade

The Courage to Love by Samantha Kane

Dangerous Grounds by Shelli Stevens

The Sin Eater's Promise by Michele Hauf

Love From the Ashes by Denise A. Agnew

The Druid's Daughter by Jean Hart Stewart

The English Heiress by Roberta Gellis

~*~*~

So what did you get in the mail? I hope there was something good, not just junk mail and bills! If there was, please share with us; if not, then tell me if you've read any of these books yourself.

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!

Loveswept Holiday Hop-12/12/11 thru 01/08/12 -Sponsored By RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Holidays to everyone - Romance At Random is celebrating their Loveswept line with a random e-book Giveaway to 25 winners plus an opportunity to win one Grand Prize from http://www.romanceatrandom.com/. Enter here to be included in the FREE random e-book drawing (25 winners will pick up their FREE book from Net Galley) and then stop on by http://www.romanceatrandom.com/ and comment to enter the drawing to be the ''ONE” Grand Prize winner, to win a selection of great books! Good Luck and Happy Holidays to all!

INCREASE your chances to win by visiting all of the participating 'Loveswept - Holiday Hop' sites! Winners will be contacted after 1/10/12.

*Note: Just in case the Google doc and Linky are not working, you can always go directly to THIS LINK at RomanceRandom and enter there!

Good Luck!

Reading Recap: Week of December 4th

2011-12-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

Another slow week for me... *SIGH* And I didn't even get much done outside of reading this week, there was just so many things that came up in life.

I did manage to finsih two books.

And I posted two reviews this week.
Seal of My Dreams by Various Authors
Spirit Bound by Christine Feehan

Here's what I read this week:

SEAL of My Dreams was a quick read, an anthology from many well known authors. The downfall to this promising book was that it was too quick--even for an anthology. I don't regret reading it, and I still recommend it to everyone (partly due to the fact that all proceeds from the sale of this book go to a great cause for the veterans of our country), but it wasn't my favorite at all. 3 Stars--read my review HERE!

Next up was a book I received from a giveaway more than a year ago and I'm sorry I put it off so long because it was quiet enjoyable! :D The Cowboy's Christmas Miracle is a quick, festive, and loveable romance novel. It wasn't spicy, by any means (in fact, it was pretty much a G-rated one, with only a kiss or two in the story), but it made up for it with the sweetness factor. I was glad to see "the Grinch of Cold Creek" (Carson McRaven) finally learn how to love! I haven't read any other books by this author, but I'll be looking up more of her books later on, especially in this series. :) 4 Stars.

~*~*~*
What did you read this past week? Or, have you read any of the books I just listed above--if so, what were you thoughts on them? Let us know!

OH-- And don't forget: Now TBQ's Book Palace is on Facebook. So for those of you that enjoy your social media pages, be sure to 'Like' the page now. Currently I am using it simply to post when something on the blog goes live, but later on I may use it for other information as well as contests...so stay tuned! :D 'Like' TBQ's Book Palace on Facebook HERE.

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!

[NOR and ARC Review]: "Spirit Bound"

2011-12-08T09:49:00.001-07:00

Spirit Bound by Christine Feehan
Publisher: Jove (December 27, 2011)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
Lethally sexy undercover agent Stefan Prakenskii knows a thousand ways to kill a man-and twice as many ways to pleasure a woman. So he's looking forward to his new mission: arrive in the coastal town of Sea Haven and insinuate himself in the life of Judith Henderson, an ethereal beauty with mysterious ties to his past...

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

My Review:

Judith Henderson is an artist that puts her whole heart and soul into her work. And since she is an element, with a strong psychic gift connected to spirit, that means that she puts a lot more than just passion into it, and it shows. But after an unfortunate occurrence in Paris, which leads to her brother's death in Greece, she suddenly finds herself unable to contain all her dark emotions. Scared that she might hurt others with their intensity, she begins to lock them away on secret paintings that she keeps hidden in her house. She's certain that she will never again have a normal life and has resigned herself to putting on a happy face whenever she's around others, never to experience true happiness, true love, for herself... Until she meets Thomas Vincent, a sexy, if a bit shy, businessman. Suddenly she finds herself opening up to him, something she hasn't done before—and it scares her.

Stefan Prakenskii is a tough, and very lethal, warrior. As an undercover agent, trained in horrible schools in Russia, he is a ghost; he doesn't really exist and his only mission is to carry out the orders of his handlers, killing without a thought. His latest mission has taken him to Sea Haven, where his cover is that of a businessman interested in buying the local gallery. He has worked for years on this cover, and anyone would believe that he is actually Thomas Vincent. But as he begins to fall hard for Judith, he finds himself wishing that he was actually Thomas, rather than who he is: a shadow of a man with the training of a beast. But as much as he loves Judith, how can he stay with her, knowing the dangers his presence would bring to her home, to her family, to her?

Judith wishes to hide herself and her emotions away from the world, locked away so no one can see. So no one can get hurt. Stefan has been taught since a child to keep emotions out of the equation, to be nothing more than a trained shadow, there and yet never seen. But for the first time in his life, Stefan wants to act on his new found emotions, and there is only one woman he wants to do that with: Judith.

For years he has been seducing women (for information and whatnot) as it was required for his missions. Every time he was the one in control, the one carrying out the seduction. But in Judith's presence, he loses all his control, and reacts to her like he's never reacted to any woman in his entire life. If he didn't know better, he'd say she was seducing him—but she is just as throw off by the powerful chemistry brewing between them. Be it fate, destiny, or simple human connection at work, they both must accept what is happening to them and realize that it can only end one way: with the two of them together forever. But can they move past the personal demons in each of their pasts and work towards a future together—before it is too late.

4.5 STARS! A tortured hero, almost non-stop action from start to finish and some very steamy love scenes—what more could a person want from a book? Spirit Bound is full of 'edge-of-your-seat' action and danger lurks around every corner, but there is also hope in the pages of this story, as well as love and trust for one another. It is romantic at all the right moments, enough so to make the reader almost want to cry, yet deliciously steamy during others. The story has its ups and downs, but you won't find a boring moment anywhere. Another truly magical story of second chances; because even though these two have never been together before, they each have had their own problems in the past and now is their chance to rise above them—together—and have a second chance at living, truly living, not merely existing like they were before. For a thrilling and sexy romance novel pick up Spirit Bound, or any of Ms. Feehan's other Sea Haven novels—you'll be glad you did!

~~~
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!

[Review]: "SEAL of My Dreams"

2011-12-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

SEAL of My Dreams by Cindy Gerard AND Other Authors
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (November 11, 2011)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
True heroes who will win your heart. Honor, duty, courage, passion . . . the men of the Navy SEALs are a special breed of hero, and in these stories by eighteen top romance authors the SEALs are celebrated not only as symbols of devoted service to their country but as the kind of man every woman wants to love. They'll rescue a damsel in distress and her lap dog, too. They'll battle hometown dramas and international bad guys. When it comes to giving away their hearts, they'll risk everything. All proceeds from sales of SEAL of My Dreams goes to the Veterans Research Corporation, a non-profit fundraiser for veterans' medical research. Among them, the authors of SEAL of My Dreams have won dozens of writing awards including multiple RITAs from Romance Writers of America. Their nearly 600 published novels have sold at least 25 million copies worldwide. The SEAL of My Dreams roster includes many of the best-known authors in modern romance fiction. In addition, many have strong family connections to the servicemen and women of our nation's military, and many specialize in novels featuring heroes and heroines from all branches of service.

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | NOOK
More Info: Book Site

My Review:

SEAL of My Dreams is an anthology full of best-selling and well known contemporary romance authors, with the theme for every story being the brave Navy SEAL man and the woman he loves. The premise for both the anthology and the individual stories is very promising. However, the execution falls a bit short and leaves the reader wanting.

Even if it wasn't for the fact that this particular anthology has so many novellas inside of it, I couldn't give you a summary or review of each one even if I wanted to. They each seemed to blend into the next one. Just as I would start to get into the story and begin to enjoy it, I'd turn the page and suddenly it is the next story. So off I began again on another SEAL related adventure and then suddenly it's time for that one to abruptly end as well. I felt as if I was in some sort of class and every 15 minutes the instructor was yelling “Switch!”, at which point one story would disappear and I'd find the new one in front of me instead.

Yes, I understand that an anthology is merely a collection of short stories. And perhaps some would say I am wrong to base part of my review on the fact that everything was too short, but I've read many novellas and anthologies—I know the difference between a short story that is done so well the reader doesn't even feel that more story is needed and one where it reads more like an excerpt than anything else. This book, unfortunately, fell under the second category. Every story was too rushed—most of them, I felt, barely even had a storyline, and the others had great potential...until it was suddenly hacked off, almost mid-sentence it would seem.

It's pretty unfortunate when most of the stories in SEAL of My Dreams were literally forgettable for me. Many of them left my mind as soon as the next novella began, leaving no impression of memory of it behind. The others were forgotten not long after I read the final page of the book. It wasn't intentional, but rather it happened from lack of substance, and therefore each one blew away before I was even done with it. Shouldn't I have been left with something by the end? A favorite story or two, a few complaints about my least favorite ones—something? I should have been, but I wasn't.

However, this anthology did still do its job to attract new readers to authors they've never read before, give them a taste of what to expect. Despite not feeling satisfied and fulfilled by the end of it, I still wanted to read more novels by most, if not all, of these authors. The novellas that were part of an existing series went straight on my list, and the others made me want to look up the author's other books to see which ones sound like my kind of romance novel. I'll admit, I enjoyed reading about the SEALs, and I'll do so again in a heartbeat. In this, at least, the book succeeded.

Despite my desire for more substance to these novellas, many of them did have a lot of positive elements going for them. Almost every one of these stories made me want to cry, to grieve—for both the men in the story and the real men that do these things in the name of our country every day. Other stories had me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails during the dangerous missions. A few had me sighing at the tender moments in between all the courageous ones. One or two had me on fire from the passion and love, though non of them were particularly spicy and only a couple even had a real love scene (and those were very, very brief).

3 STARS! I would still recommend SEAL of My Dreams to every romance fan out there. Even though it wasn't perfect, and it wasn't my favorite book of all time, it still touched something inside of me. And more importantly, the book is benefiting a great cause, with all proceeds from it going to veteran medical research and other worthy causes for the brave men and women that serve our country. Buy this book, enjoy a taste of what these authors have to offer in their full-length novels, and help out a great cause while doing so-- what more could you ask for?

~~~
Thanks to NetGalley, where I received this book for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!)
~~~

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!

What Did I Receive?

2011-12-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

It wasn't too bad of a week for me. Not too many bills in the mailbox and a few books to make it all better! :D

Here's what I received this past week:

For Review:

None this week, though I'll probably end up writing reviews for the books I won. :)

Won:

If You Hear Her by Shiloh Walker

Paperback courtesy of Romance at Random.

Romancing the Countess by Ashley March

Autographed copy (with tons of awesome goodies, ty!) courtesy of Seductive Musings , supplied by March during her blog tour.

Bought:

None--well, actually I bought a few books for my NOOK, all free ones though. But I don't count those.... Okay, so maybe I'm just too lazy to look them up now.... ;)

~*~*~
So what did you get in the mail? I hope there was something good, not just junk mail and bills! If there was, please share with us; if not, then tell me if you've read any of these books yourself.

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!

Reading Recap: Week of Nov. 27th

2011-12-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

*SIGH* Another slow reading week for me! This one, I think, was the worst in a loooong while though. Only 2 books read--and one of them was a short novella at that! I hope I pick up the pace next week, or else my poor TBR Mountain is going to be toppling soon!

Here's what I read this week:

Spirit Bound by Christine Feehan was a wonderful read, and I wish I hadn't been so busy this week so I could have enjoyed it in one sitting like I wanted to, rather than in ten minute bouts over almost five days! It was everything I've come to expect from Feehan; interesting, full of edge-of-your-seat adventure and action, hot (very hot!) romance and yet sweet tender moments that make you almost want to cry. It's been a while since I read one of Feehan's novels, especially one of her paranormal ones set in Sea Haven, but now that I've been reacquainted with it, I'll be grabbing up all the ones I've missed--I'm especially interested in Rikki and Levi's story, which came before this one. :D My review will be posted closer to the release date of the book. 4.5 Stars--read my review HERE!

Next I picked up a short novella I had sitting on my NOOK, Needing Nita. It was a very quick story, only took me maybe half an hour or so to read it, and I would definitely have liked more to it, but I knew going into it that it was only a novella, so I can't exactly hold that against it. It was pretty spicy, though I didn't see the romance that suddenly appeared for the HEA, but that is usually the case with novellas. Since it was a FREE read from BN (and probably Amazon at one time), I don't feel like I wasted my time. It was quick, and that's all I was looking for at the time. 3 Stars.

~*~*~*
What did you read this past week? Or, have you read any of the books I just listed above--if so, what were you thoughts on them? Let us know!

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a membIer 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!

What Did I Receive?

2011-11-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone survived the holidays (and Black Friday, for those of you that went out!); for those of you that didn't celebrate Thanksgiving this past weekend, then may I say perhaps you are the ones better off for it, considering some of the hassle, headaches, and mishaps that many of us dealt with? :D Not that we regret it for a moment...well, okay, maybe a moment, but that is all! *Wink*

Here is what I received in the mail/email this past week:

For Review:

White Wind by Susan Edwards
E-Book courtesy of NetGalley.

White Shadows by Susan Edwards
E-Book courtesy of NetGalley.

Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott
E-Book courtesy of NetGalley.

Lucky Penny by Catherine Anderson

ARC courtesy of NOR.

Won:

None--but I have won a few giveaways lately and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my books. :D

Bought:

Again, none. Yes, I know you find this hard to believe, considering some of the past shopping endeavours I've told you about (need I remind you of the Big Weekend Haul of 2009?!), but I'm honestly trying to hold back my spending, especially while I've got over 250 books still in my ~~pile~~ mountain anyway. But I was tempted many times...oh was I tempted!

~*~*~
So what did you get in the mail? I hope there was something good, not just junk mail and bills! If there was, please share with us; if not, then tell me if you've read any of these books yourself.

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

Reading Recap: Week of Nov. 20th

2011-11-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday (at least those of us that live in the US and celebrated Thanksgiving)!

Mine was... chaotic. Not so much from family (it was just four of us this year, rather than the size we've had in the past), but rather from events that happened. First I fell behind on dinner prep, and I was scrambling to fix everything in the 30 minutes or so that I had the turkey out and resting; my gravy, for whatever reason, never even thickened properly, but at least we had nice tasting "liquid" to pour over everything.

Then, when I went to dispose of the vegetables and lemon from the roasting pan, I decided to pour them down the toilet (in small batches), like I've done many times before... Well, this time I had a few bigger chunks than I should have, along with our toilet already having some tendencies to clog, and, well, needless to say we went without a working toilet for almost two days while trying to get it fixed. Why is it that no plumbers in my area ever answer there phone, and those that do want ridiculous prices to, in essence, come and take an industrial sized plunger to a toilet?

With the help of my grandfather and great uncle, we managed to finally get it unclogged late Friday night--after taking the toilet off, putting it in the tub and then cleaning the problem (a lemon and the HUGE carrot) out from the hole. Another day was then spent cleaning everything (toliet, tub, carpet, etc) and even now we are still working on finishing up. All because of some stupid cooked carrot that must have fallen into radioactive waste while stuck in the pipe, I swear it was not that big when I cut the piece that morning for the bird.

But enough of my boring tale of how I spent my Thanksgiving, on to the books, the real purpose of this post.

I managed 3 books this week (between the cooking and then bathroom mishaps), which isn't too bad considering.

I also posted two reviews, both were from books I read for NOR earlier this year and late last year, but due to my break in blogging I never posted them on here.
Warcry by Elizabeth Vaughan
Master of Smoke by Angela Knight

Here's what I read this week though:

I decided to go with another anthology collection, this time a Christmas themed historical one I've had in my pile for over a year. A Christmas Ball by Jennifer Ashley, Emily Bryan, and Alissa Johnson was a bit of a disappointment, but I don't regret reading it. I think the reason I was disappointed is due to the fact that the last book I read before this (Bad Boys Next Exit) was such an amazing book--and it too was an anthology! But ACB was everything that I dislike about anthologies; too short, too rushed, and something essential was lacking in each story. However, for a quick Christmas-y book, this wasn't too bad. I'm already a fan of Ashley's work, I've read and enjoyed one of Bryan's novels before, but this was a first for me from Johnson; I might look for more by her (I did enjoy some of the wit in her very brief story), but I will say that her story was my least favorite of the three, though it wasn't that horrible either. 3 Stars (overall). *NOTE: Currently out of print*

Mad About the Earl is another ARC from NOR. This means that my review will not be posted until closer to the release date (perhaps late Dec. at the earliest). However, I will say this until then: While it may not have been my favorite book of the year, I still very much enjoyed it, and I look forward to reading future books by Christina Brooke! I think a quote from Suzanne Enoch, in regards to Brooke's writing, says it all: "Clever, lush, and lovely!" I second that, Suzanne! 4 Stars--review to come!

The Rogue Pirate's Bride was an ARC copy I received from NetGalley--and I am very happy that I was lucky enough to get approved for it! It's been a while since I read a book by Shana Galen, but I was quickly reminded why I love her books: they are sexy, are always filled with witty banter, and the heroines almost always kick butt (in other words, they have real substance to them, rather than being flat and silly in character). I loved this book, and I am now eager to go back and read Julien and Armand's stories, as well as catch up on all of Galen's many books. My review, however, will not be posted until closer to the release date (which is Feb.), so please check back for my review around mid-January! 4.5 Stars---review to come!

~*~*~*
What did you read this past week? Or, have you read any of the books I just listed above--if so, what were you thoughts on them? Let us know!

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!

[NOR Review]: "Master of Smoke"

2011-11-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Master of Smoke by Angela Knight
Publisher: Berkley (January 4, 2011)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Mageverse Series, 7
Summary (Amazon.com):
After being attacked by a werewolf, Eva Roman is now able to shift into one. Luckily she saves a handsome shapeshifter from a similar attack. Eva does not know his true identity as Smoke, a Sidhe warrior. His attacker was Warlock, the magic-imbued leader of a cult of werewolf assassins trained to destroy all others. As a war ignites between all the immortals in the Mageverse, Eva and Smoke will need more than their love for each other to survive.

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

My Review:

From the bestselling author Angela Knight comes yet another scorching novel from the Mageverse series—prepare to meet (and fall for) Smoke, a sexy demigod/shapeshifter/Sidhe. But should you fall for him, watch out; Eva turns into more than just a jealous girlfriend, she gets down right territorial over him! If you touch him, you may just find yourself being attacked by a pissed-off werewolf. My advice? Look, daydream, hope and wish, but don't touch!

From the very beginning, I've enjoyed Knight's novels. She's added a new twist to the old tales of King Arthur that we grew up learning, adding vampires and werewolves and witches (oh my!), not to mention erotic scenes that would make our old teachers blush! Eleven novels later and I'm still just as excited to get my hands on the next one, ready to here what's happening next in the interesting Mageverse realm—and I'm sure after reading just one that you'll be the same way.

Master of Smoke tells the story of Smoke and Eva; but rather than just telling about their love story, there's more to this book than that. Warlock, an evil Dire Wolf whose very existence many have believed to be a myth up until now, has captured Smoke's power and holds him captive while splintering his soul, his very being, into three pieces (Cat, Smoke, and David). Eva must not only learn to accept her lover as all three—very different personalities—but also save him from Warlock before she loses him forever.

4.5 STARS! Another sexy adventure into the magical realm filled with vampire knights from the time of the Round Table along with witches and werewolves, this is a series you won't want to miss out on! A word of advice though: if you have yet to read any of these books, I would highly suggest starting with book one and work your way down the list. Even though you could probably manage to find your way and enjoy the ride if you hopped on somewhere in the middle, it's just that much more enjoyable if you read it in order. If you enjoy a paranormal series with a healthy dose of erotica, enough wit to lighten the mood, battles of good vs. evil, and a new twist on an old storyline, then what are you waiting for? Enter the world of Mageverse—I promise, once you get in, you won't want to go back!

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

Note: This is a book I read last year, but never posted the review here on the blog after it went up on 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!

[NOR Review]: "Warcry"

2011-11-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

Warcry by Elizabeth Vaughan
Publisher: Berkley (May 3, 2011)
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Series: Chronicles of the Warlords, 4
Summary (Amazon.com):
All is not well in Xy. There is a faction of nobles who are plotting against the Queen and her barbarian warlord. As cultures clash and tempers flare, Heath and the fierce Plains warrior woman Atira of the Bear must come together to fight the conspiracy... and to search their hearts for something deeper than raw passion.

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

My Review:

Warcry by Elizabeth Vaughan takes the reader on a journey through a fantasy world unlike many that are out there. A thrilling ride from beginning to end, one filled with romance and humor, adventure and even a bit of intrigue, Warcry is a wonderful fantasy book, and one that this reader will be reading again very soon.

Warcry continues the romantic story of the Warprize and the Warlord (Lara and Keir), showing how the differences in their two cultures may pose a problem for not only themselves but their unborn child as well. In between continuing their sweet story, Vaughan also adds in a new budding romance, that of Heath and Atria; one is from the Kingdom of Xy while the other is a member of the Plains people. These are two very different people from two different parts of this fantasy world. Their relationship is not simple, nor easy, but if the two can work on it together then perhaps a happily-ever-after is in their future after all.

This is the perfect book for anyone who enjoys a good fantasy romance series. However, it seems that this book would make more sense, and be more enjoyable overall, if the reader first picks up the previous books in the series. I did not have this option as the books were currently out of print (though this year they are all being reprinted), and none of my libraries had the books either. While I thoroughly enjoyed Warcry, I do wish I had been able to read the other books first. Obviously they are now on the top of my wish list.

4.5 Stars! With a book as complex and rich as Warcry, it is difficult to write a review that even begins to give it justice. It’s romantic and witty, with a storyline that has more to it than just a man meeting the woman he wants for life, Warcry is one of the best fantasy romance novels I've read in years, and one that is part of a series that looks just as promising. If you've never read one of Vaughan's books before, I would highly suggest starting with this series.

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

Note: This is a book I read earlier this year, but never posted the review here on the blog after it went up on 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!

What Did I Receive?

2011-11-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since I've done such a post, but seeing as how I do have the button for these posts and I have been receiving a few books lately in the mail, I figured it's time to start it back up! :D

Here's what I received in the mail (NOTE: This particular post is going to combine the last two weeks' worth of deliveries):

For Review:

The Highlander's Heart by Amanda Forester
Courtesy of NOR

All About Seduction by Katy Madison
Courtesy of NOR

Sunrise with a Notorious Lord by Alexandra Hawkins
ARC, Courtesy of NOR

Won:

Embrace the Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney
Courtesy of Blodeuedd @ Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell -- Thanks again!

Bought:

None--for now.... :D

~*~*~
So what did you get in the mail? I hope there was something good, not just junk mail and bills! If there was, please share with us; if not, then tell me if you've read any of these books yourself.

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

Reading Recap: Week of Nov. 13th

2011-11-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

This week I only managed three books, but two reviews. One was from this week's book. The other was from a NOR book I read earlier this year but only now posted the review for-- Stranger in My Arms.

Here's what I read:

First up was Shifting Love by Constance O'Day-Flannery. This one took me about four days to finish, but it wasn't entirely the book's fault (I had very little spare time during those days). However, I won't lie; there were times when the book did drag a bit and I was wondered if I would ever finish. In the end, I'm glad that I stuck with it, as it turned out to be a very enjoyable read. It combined a storyline I haven't read before (as far as shifters go) with some spicy lovin' and yet very sweet romance. And within the pages of this book is some great advice, even if it is a fictional story. That's one unique thing about this book; while the characters are teaching others, it also manages to teach the reader about life lessons and issues, as well as ways to begin getting over them. Would I say that SL should be used in the place of real advice or even help? Of course not! But it's definitely nice to have such realistic themes and lessons going on while reading a romance book that otherwise we would just say is a guilty pleasure. :D 4 Stars.

Too Wicked to Wed by Cara Elliott was my next read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was a very sexy, witty new historical romance, and I plan on picking up Elliott's other books as soon as I can! 4.5 Stars--read my review HERE!

My last book for this week was also my favorite! Bad Boys Next Exit (by Shannon McKenna, Donna Kauffman and E.C. Sheedy) was hands down the best anthology I've ever read! Usually anthologies, not matter how great some of the authors might be that are in it, seem to be lacking something; they seem rushed (and in a way they are, as they can only take up a limit amount of pages). But this one was different. Each of the three stories in here were amazing and read like a true full length novel. They were each very sexy, very steamy (I'm still quivering from a few of those scenes) full of yummy alpha-type heroes and yet managed to showcase the love story of each couple even if there was only about 100 pages in each story. I highly recommend this one; you won't regret it! I think the lowest rating I'd give (if the three books were published separately) would go to E.C. Sheedy's, as it was my least favorite, though even that wouldn't go below a 3.5-4 star rating. However, McKenna and Kauffmans'---wow! I'm looking forward to reading more by these two authors, and I may not even have the control to wait until after Christmas! :D 5 Stars!

~*~*~*
What did you read this past week? Or, have you read any of the books I just listed above--if so, what were you thoughts on them? Let us know!

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!

[NOR Review]: "Too Wicked to Wed"

2011-11-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

Too Wicked to Wed by Cara Elliott
Publisher: Forever (November 1, 2011)
Series: Lords of Midnight, 1
Genre: Historical Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
Outspoken and independent, Lady Alexa Bingham enjoys the heady freedom of making all her own decisions, even though the challenges of overseeing her family's country estate are daunting. But when a chance encounter with London's most notorious rake awakens a secret longing for adventure, she accepts her aunt's invitation for a Season in Town . . . only to find that breaking the rules of the ton has serious consequences.
The Earl of Killingworth uses his rakehell reputation to hide the fact that poverty has forced him to work for a living. As the owner of a gambling den and brothel, Connor has no time for glittering ballrooms or innocent young ladies. But after a reckless wager leaves him with a new business partner, he is forced to take a risky gamble . . . Will the cards fall in their favor? Alexa and Connor begin to play a dangerous game of intrigue and deception as they seek to outwit a cunning adversary who wants to put them permanently out of business. But if they are not careful, it is the flames of their own fiery attraction that may destroy them.

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | B and N | NOOK
More Info: Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt

My Review:

When Lady Alexa Hendrie walks into one of London's infamous brothels, The Wolf's Lair, she had no idea that she would be staking more than just her reputation by being seen in there. She might very well be risking her heart...

Connor Linsley, the Earl of Killingworth, is the owner of The Wolf's Lair, though his identity is kept secret from most people. Honestly, he couldn't give a fig about what the ton thinks of him, but despite what they seem to think about his character he has not sunk nearly as low as they think; he still respects some of their rules.... But when a lady with fire in her blood barges into his office, his usual biting remarks and sarcastic barbs are stunned into silence (if only temporarily). Instead, he finds himself thoroughly intrigued by Alexa, and when she asks for help in locating her brother, whom she believes to be in his club somewhere, he agrees—but only if she agrees to his cost. The price? A kiss. But neither one of them were prepared for the hot flames of desire to engulf both of them in it's snares after only a taste....

As the story continues, the flames flicker ever higher; but as tempted as the Irish Wolfhound is, even he has a code of honor and doesn't wish to see Alexa hurt, her captivating spark for life put out by his careless actions. But when various events leads the two of them to playing husband and wife for a few weeks while at his family estate, temptation proves to be far too hard to resist. Yet even after their night of passion he still hungers for her; not just physically, but rather something much deeper, more binding, and it scares the tough wolf who has managed to roam free all these years. Now one innocent, who is full of fire and wit and able to hold her own against him, is threatening to crumble the walls he has so carefully built around his heart...Will he be brave enough to let her in?

4.5 STARS! A truly magnificent start to what appears to be a sexy and witty new series, Too Wicked To Wed is easily one of the best historical romances of 2011! Alexa is not a meager miss, but rather an intelligent and strong woman that I respect and even came to love over the course of the book. Connor is an interesting hero, as he is not smooth and charismatic, but rather a man who has had his share of bad luck in the past and has turned to sarcasm to help smooth his rumpled appearance to others. I found myself laughing at the witty banter between the characters, especially the hero and heroine, and there was more than enough passion to go around; in fact, I think I literally saw a few sparks flying in the air during a scene or two! Delightful, delicious, and charming, I can't say enough about this book—Ms. Elliott has got herself another fan, as I plan on putting all her books on my list and I am confident that she will become another auto-buy author for me. I am anxious to read Cam and Gryff's stories, as they both were very strong characters in this book, allowing the readers to catch a glimpse of what is still to come. Like they say, a reformed rake makes the best husband—and two more very lucky women have got their work cut out for them in regards to the remaining Hellhounds of London!

~~~
Thanks to Night Owl Reviews, where I received this book 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!

[NOR Review]: "Stranger in my Arms"

2011-11-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Stranger in my Arms by Lisa Kleypas
PUBLISHER: Avon; (Feb 22, 2011 ~ reprint)
GENRE: Historical Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
"Lady Hawksworth, your husband is not dead . . ."
With these words, Lara's life is turned upside down. Her unhappy, loveless marriage had ended when the Earl of Hawksworth was lost at sea. But now a man stands before her, virile and powerful, who says he is her missing husband, revealing secrets that only he would know. While this dark-eyed stranger closely resembles the earl, he is as attentive and loving as Hunter was cruel and cold, promising to make Lara his wife once again in every way. With every beat of her heart, she aches to believe that this remarkable man is who he claims to be. But is he truly the rake returned and reformed . . . or is Lara being seduced by a cunning imposter?

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | B and N | NOOK
More Info: Author's Site | Book Site |

My Review:

Lisa Kleypas in one of the best romance authors out there—hands down. And while this may be a reprint of one of her earlier books, Kleypas proves this again with the release of Stranger in my Arms!

Imagine if you believed you husband to be dead...and suddenly he returned, healthy and ready to take back his duties—all of them. This is what happens to the heroine of this story, Lara. When Hunter “returns” from the dead, her whole life is turned upside down...but not all of it is a bad thing, as she soon finds herself falling for her husband, a man that before all this happened she almost despised. But is this man really her husband, or a superb imitator?

Although many have said that this is one of Kleypas's worst novels, an “okay” read at best, I have to disagree. I loved the story, even if it may be a bit unrealistic, and I enjoyed watching the two characters develop, watching their love slowly bloom. The love scenes were passionate and sexy, but still romantic; something that very few authors can pull off successfully—but Kleypas does it time and time again. The storyline adds just enough drama and suspense to the novel, making it more than just a straight up romance novel like many of the other books on the shelf. Maybe I'm simply a sucker for stories like this, but I don't see how anyone can rate a Kleypas novel as anything under a 4 star rating—and even that is almost too low in my opinion!

5 Stars! Yet another wonderful book from an amazing historical romance author! Full of warm romance and steamy sex, along with a few laughs and even a little mystery to solve, this book makes for a quick and satisfying read for anyone looking for a great time. And as soon as you finish it, be sure to put the rest of Kleypas's books on your list; after just one, you'll be hooked for life!

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

Note: This is a book I read earlier this year, but never posted the review here on the blog after it went up on 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!

Reading Recap: Week of November 6th

2011-11-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Another busy week (that's my excuse at least... :-) ) as I only managed 4 books, one of which I reviewed.

However, I did post quiet a few other reviews this week, from books I read earlier this year for NOR but, at the time, I was taking the break from blogging and therefore never posted them here. Well, now I'm going back through the list (maybe 10 books total in that time?) and posting the reviews on here.

There will be more to come next week, but so far I managed three this past week. They are:
~Temptress in Training by Susan Gee Heino
~Just One Season in London by Leigh Michaels
~The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley

Here's what I read this week though:

I had a hard time deciding on a final rating for The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker (quiet a title, isn't it?!). It was...an interesting read. And I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way. However, there were times when the story seemed to drag (it took me five days to finish it; unheard of with a book that is only 300 or so pages), and I was tempted to yell at the characters quiet a few times (and wanted to slap a few more than once) due to their, well, stupidity when it came to figuring out who the Prophecy was....But, overall, I did enjoy the book, and if it wasn't for the flaw of it being a bit of a rough ride (that is, stops and starts rather than smooth reading) I may have even gave it a top rating because I did very much enjoy the storyline, which was quiet original. It is, in a way, a retelling of the myth of Persephone, but in this case the Greek Goddess has been reborn into a mortal and the idea of Hades isn't quiet the same as we are lead to believe. There is also The Guard, which is meant to protect the living from the dead, who are also reincarnations in mortal forms, with their leader, Alexi, being the lover of Persephone.....It's much easier to follower, and more interesting, when reading it yourself, believe me. And I think you should read this one; it may not have ranked as number one on my favorites list, but I did enjoy it very much and I will look for more books by this author, especially in this series. The writing, by the way, reminded me of how I picture old Gothic books being; you know how in all the historical romances we read the heroines (or occasional hero, I guess) talk about what Gothic book is currently the rage to read, well this is how I picture those books, only much easier to read and perhaps a bit more interesting. :) 3.5 STARS.

A Good Confession was the next on my a list, as I had received it from the author to review almost a year ago (right before I took my break from blogging). I feel horrible that I let it go for this long, and even worse when I had to give it a less than great review... The book falls more or less under the category of general fiction (in my opinion at least) and I had a very hard time sticking with it. By the end, I was very disappointed and truly hated the ending. I doubt I'll be picking up future books by this author; they just don't seem to be my style of books. 2.5 Stars--read my review HERE!

Next, I reached for an auto-buy author that I absolutely love--Janet Chapman. Secrets of the Highlander continues her Pine Creek Highlander series, and not only does it deliver the usual fun, sexy, and touching romance that we've come to love, but it also delivers something new: not only is our hero not the extremely tall and smooth alpha that we so often love, but Chapman also brings in some new twists to the storylines, with Native American magic (dreamwalking, etc) as well as setting up for the series that begins after this one. I absolutely loved every minute of Megan and Wayne/Jack/Coyote's story (it's a long story, but it's the same guy, don't worry!). It was full of passion and second chances, love and learning how to trust, as well as enough mystery and adventure to keep it all interesting. I love the tall, strapping Scottish alpha/laird for a hero, but I'll tell you what: after reading this one, I'd love a blushing, sweet, cunning half-Native American like Jack any day! 5 Stars!

The Fire King by Marjorie Liu was my next read, and I have to say I really enjoyed it. It was a new storyline (can you say Chimeras?!), and one that I'd like to read more about. I plan on reading the others in this series, though they do not all center around the shapeshifters and chimeras like this particular book does. It is a bit funny at times, a bit sexy during others, and watching Karr and Soria slowly start to open up to one another, trust each other, was truly wonderful. My only complaint is that while this was a great fantasy/paranormal book, I was disappointed in the lack of romance. Except for one very brief foreplay scene, they never got to consummate their love for each other--and I very much wanted that to happen, as I knew that it would be a big milestone in their relationship, as well as nice and steamy read for us. Does that make me a sex addict then? *Wink* LOL. No, but really I think that is the main reason why I found myself giving it a "I really liked it" rating rather than a full on "I loved it rating". How weird to think that something so primal can make or break a book, at least for me. Still I will be reading more of Liu's books, since I've read one before and I know she's capable of writing a steamy scene or two. :D 4 Stars. (By the way, the cover shown here is the reprint new one. I have the older one [see it here] and I kind of prefer it myself)

~*~*~*
What did you read this past week? Or, have you read any of the books I just listed above--if so, what were you thoughts on them? Let us know!

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!

[NOR Review]: "The Many Sins of Lord Cameron

2011-11-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley
PUBLISHER: Berkley; (August 2, 2011)
GENRE: Historical Romance
SERIES: Highland Pleasures, 3
Summary (Amazon.com)
A renowned rake, Cameron Mackenzie doesn't care if Ainsley Douglas has a virtuous excuse for sneaking around his bedchamber. He only cares that she's at his mercy. One kiss at a time, he plans to seduce her. But what starts out as a lusty diversion may break Cam's own rules.

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | B and N | NOOK
More Info: Author's Site | Series Site |

My Review:

The talented writing of Jennifer Ashley strikes again! By the end of The Many Sins of Lord Cameron, you will find yourself falling head over heels for the sinfully delicious (and tortured) hero, Cam, wishing that he was yours to heal with love. You may even become envious of Ainsley, though only because Cam is hers, as she is an otherwise lovely and enjoyable heroine.

From the very beginning of this series, Ashley drew the readers in, making us fall for each and everyone of the mad, tortured, and devilishly handsome Mackenzie men. We've watched first Ian, and then Mac, fall for their true loves, and now it's Cam's turn. Ashley simply has a gift with her storytelling, making her romance novels so much more than just a steamy sex novel. Heart-wrenching romance, balanced with a good amount of steamy sex, and an underlying storyline all contribute to the book's enjoyment—everything about it seems real, as if, where you able to go back in time to this exact year in England, you would be able to find the Mackenzie men just as Ashley described, lost and looking for their soul mates.

After living through the nightmare that was once his life, Cam is finally saved when Ainsley sweeps into his life, taking his heart as easily as she manages to pick a lock while working for the Queen. At least he fights it, afraid to give in, afraid to share his torture, his life of hell, with such a wonderful and innocent woman. But as love works it's magic on the two of them, they soon figure out that together they are able to work through just about anything, a feat that cannot be accomplished by themselves.

5 STARS! Potential readers, be warned: Cam's story may be so gut-wrenching, so honest, that a few tears may fall while reading it. This is normal, and is, in fact, the sign of a good book, as well as a sign of a talented author at work. I've cried, at some point or another, during all three of Ashley's books so far (in the Mackenzie series, that is), and I expect that when Hart's story finally comes out my reaction will be no different. This one is joining my shelf of favorites, along with the previous two—and an empty spot will sit next to it, waiting for the next book in this fantastic series!

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

Note: This is a book I read earlier this year, but never posted the review here on the blog after it went up on 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!

[NOR Review]: "Just One Season In London"

2011-11-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Just One Season in London by Leigh Michaels
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Casablanca (July 1, 2011)
GENRE: Historical Romance
Summary (Amazon.com)
A family that courts together...

Viscount Ryecroft has a beautiful sister he needs to marry off... if only he had the money for her Season in London.

His family is in financial ruins, and his mother is willing to do anything to help her children, including sell herself to the highe st bidder...

Finds passion on their own...
Sophie Ryecroft will sacrifice love to marry for the good of her family... but instead finds passion and solace in an attracti ve alternative.
With so much riding on their one and only Season in London, Rye, Sophie, and Miranda can't help but get hopelessly entangled with all the wrong people...

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | B and N
More Info: Author's Site | Book Site

My Review:

Just One Season in London held so much promise—promise of romance and second chances, of happily ever afters and all the twists in the road while trying to get there. But upon reading the novel, I found much of it to be, unfortunately, lacking in most of these areas, along with a few other important ones as well.

I believe my biggest disappointment was the characters; from Miranda and Sophie to Rye and Robert, to name a few, they all seemed a bit flat, two-dimensional, rather than fully developed like good heroes and heroines should be. This was, after all, a story that covered not one couple's story but three couples; yet I couldn't even find just one character that truly stuck out. Some were too flighty, too easily turned by the whims of Society, others we were simply not told enough about to get a good feel for who they actually are.

If the characters had been different, if they had been more, well, just “more” in general, I believe that the storyline may have been enough to hold the story together better, and perhaps bring about a higher rating. The romance wasn't too bad; despite there being three couples in the novel, there wasn't a lot of it, in comparison to other ones in this genre, but nonetheless what was there was good. I do wish that there had been more, for all of the couples, but I can't say whether the additional romance, with no other additions or improvements, would have been enough to make me love this book.

3.5 STARS! For a pleasant, quick read, Just One Season in London is a good choice. If one enjoys having a fairly tepid romance story, than this one fits the bill, and leaves the reader satisfied at the end. I may not have loved it, but I didn't hate the book either—far from it! I do, however, enjoy my romance novels a bit more spicy, a bit more complex. But that wouldn't stop me from picking up one of Michaels' books in the future, or recommending them to those that I think will enjoy it!

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

Note: This is a book I read earlier this year, but never posted the review here on the blog after it went up on 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!

[NOR Review]: "Temptress in Training"

2011-11-09T11:46:00.004-07:00

Temptress in Training by Susan Gee Heino
PUBLISHER: Berkley (July 5, 2011)
GENRE: Historical Romance
Summary (Amazon.com)
A handsome earl and a beautiful seamstress are looking for answers. Both are willing to do what it takes to get them-even if it requires a little seduction. After the Earl of Lindley's search for the double agent who killed his family leads him to Miss Darshaw, he decides bedding her is the best way to get some answers...

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | B and N | NOOK
More Info: Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt

My Review:

Temptress in Training sounded like it had all the makings for a wonderful historical romance—wit and humor, love and adventure, intrigue and mystery. What more could a reader possible want? After reading it, I have to be honest: this reader was still left wanting more, specifically more romance, more of a connection with the characters. The rest of the story was done well enough, though there were parts that were a bit bumpy. Heino has a good hand at being able to weave wit and humor into her story, and I had very little complaints there.

The web that Heino weaved around the characters and storyline was so complex that I do not know that I have it completely figured out, even now. Just when you think you know who everyone is and what part they play in the overall scheme of things, Heino throws another curve in the road, throwing you off yet again. However, while trying to make everything so complicated and steeped in mystery, I felt like a few of the characters and their stories were pushed out of the way entirely, turning a character that had the potential to be a lead into nothing but a wisp of a memory long before the end of the book. Perhaps this was somehow intentional—I cannot say.

3 Stars! For a lite mystery thrill, this is the novel to pick up, and one that I'm sure many readers will enjoy. However, if you, like me, have come to expect more from your romance novels (perhaps the quintessential “happily ever after” and all that leads up to it), then I would still encourage you to try this book. But be warned: though there may be more than a few scenes with sex in it, none of them were, at least to me, true love scenes between the hero and heroine. I'm not opposed to spicy or fast lovin' in my romance novels; however, I do still expect to find the romance in the books first and foremost, and in Temptress in Training, I simply could not find said emotion. I will still keep my eyes out for future books by this great author, as I am sure that just because I found one to be less than satisfactory does not meant that I shall find all of her work that way!

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

Note: This is a book I read earlier this year, but never posted the review here on the blog after it went up on 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!