Ten Kisses To Scandal by Vivienne Lorret

Every author should aspire to write with the same degree of thoughtfulness as Vivien Lorret. Her metaphors are brilliantly crafted, her characters wonderfully compelling and her dialogue so entertaining it will leave the reader enthralled.

Briar Bourne needs a win so she can prove to her sisters and to her uncle that she's just as capable of being a successful matchmaker as they are. Especially after her latest disaster where she accidentally paired a mother with her son, for it did not reflect well on the Bourne Matrimonial Agency. But when she meets Nicholas Blacklowe, the Earl of Edgemont, a daring plan starts to form in her head. What if the notorious rake could help her better understand what draws men and women together and how to determine compatibility? 

What harm could there possibly be when he's not at all her type?

Briar is about to find out when he accepts her proposal on one condition: with each piece of advice he gives her, she must submit to a kiss, causing her to realize that she's flirting with the risk of scandal and the very real possibility of losing her heart to a scoundrel.

Nicholas is intrigued by Briar. She is the light to which he is drawn, and although he knows his judgment is skewed where she is concerned, he cannot seem to stop himself from seeking her out. As the two form a closer working relationship, Briar's kisses becomes something more than a payment, leading Nicholas to realize that he must risk being honest about a past transgression, if he is to save the one good thing in his life.

A brilliant page turner. Regency romance lovers are bound to devour this story!

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Official Trailer - Miss Compton's Christmas Romance

I put this together using Getty Images and Rawshorts, which ended up being a bit of an ordeal. The first time around, I forgot to save, the second time, the voice got deleted from a couple of slides and I could not for the life of me get the same voice back, so once again, I had to start from the beginning...Oh, and it turned out that the images I'd initially selected through Rawshorts and created a beautiful trailer with, weren't royalty free, so that also meant I had to go back to square one. But, I now have the voice I want, some great alternatives to the original images and a trailer that's more or less decent...lol.

Here it is:

And Nanans Rook Reviews has also put a video together, which includes the blurb for the book and a lovely review.

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The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

What a wonderful story! Julia Quinn's ability to create amusing dialogue between the characters shines, as do her brilliantly crafted moments of comic relief. A lovely continuation of the Bridgerton series.

Poppy Bridgerton is curious by nature, so when she discovers a cave during an un-chaperoned walk, she obviously has to explore it. Which is how she ends up kidnapped and on her way to Portugal with the incredibly handsome Captain Andrew James and his crew. The journey promises to be quite the adventure, even though Poppy has no intention of liking Captain James, no matter how well he treats her or how much he gradually tempts her. After all, he did kidnap her, which is not exactly gentlemanly behavior. But when danger strikes along the way, Poppy is forced to examine her feelings for the Captain and ask herself if he might be more than he seems and possibly even the man of her dreams.

The last thing Andrew Rokesby needs on his secret mission, is to have a Bridgerton tagging along, but he also can't leave Poppy behind and risk her revealing the cave she found to others. Too much is at stake for king and country, which leaves him with only one choice - she must come with him. The problems with this are a) the lack of sleeping space, which means she must stay in his cabin at the cost of his comfort, b) she talks all the time and is constantly asking questions, and c) she's far too pretty to not tempt a man into kissing her. Which would be disastrous because of who she is and who he is, and the trouble kissing could lead to. Which is why he decides not to give her his real name.

A fantastic seafaring tale of opposites finding common ground, companionship and of course, a very romantic happily ever after. This story will have you laughing out loud as you fall in love with the characters. A true page-turner that I cannot recommend highly enough.

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What I'm Watching

In my last post on what I'm watching I mentioned Chuck which was simply fantastic. I've since finished watching the entire series and kept telling my husband that the networks need to come up with something similar. I mean, Castle and Psyche are no longer running either and it just feels as though it's been a while since there's been a comedy detective/cop/spy show on TV. 
Well, I'm happy to tell you that's no longer the case. Hooray! The Good Cop, produced by Netflix, totally fills the void that developed when I finished binge-watching Chuck. It's not as kookie, but it is fun and rather cute.

Staring Tony Danza and (*dandadada*) singer Josh Groban, this show has great potential. Tony Danza is especially great as the character Big Tony, father to Josh Groban's character TJ. He's a loveable ex-cop who's done some time for being dirty. Recently released, he has some trouble playing by the rules which ends up clashing with his straight-laced son with whom he moves in. The pair are completely opposite, always at odds, which results fun dialogue and humorous scenes.
TJ's partner, Cora Vasquez, is played by Monica Barbaro who's more easy going than TJ and thus a great compliment to his character. While there is an attraction from TJ's point of view, I'm not sure if these two will ever get together or if that would work. Will have to wait and see as the series continues.
Each episode features a crime TJ and Cora have to solve while keeping Big Tony out of trouble since he's always eager to get involved. As a former cop, he does tend to add some insight that ends up being useful, so there's always that balance between keeping him away from the crime scenes and suspects and accepting his expertise.
One of the best things about this show is it's available on Netflix, which means you don't have to wait a week to watch the next episode. You can see as many or as few as you like at your convenience.

The second show I'm watching right now is Maniac. This features Jonah Hill and Emma Stone as Annie Landsberg and Owen Milgrim. Annie suffers from relationship issues and depression while Owen has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Both are drawn to an experimental and somewhat mysterious drug trial involving pills that promises to repair the mind and solve the problem of pain. Of course, things don't go as planned. There's virtual intelligence involved, a hookup to a computer and a short circuit melding Annie's and Owen's consciousnesses together so they start experiencing the same dreams. I'm not sure how I would categorize it, maybe as fantasy drama, but one thing's for sure: it's different. Whether or not it will continue to hold my interest is yet to be determined, but for now there are some intriguing elements I'd like to know more about, like whether or not Owen really is schizophrenic or if he's just experiencing a different reality.

Other shows I plan on watching soon are The Iron Fist, Last Man Standing (which I'm so glad has been revived), Supernatural and Dr. Who which premieres on October 7th.

What are you watching? Maybe you can recommend something I don't know about or haven't decided to give a chance. Let me know in the comments below. 

The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

If you're looking for a forbidden love romance between employer and employee with some stellar secondary characters in supporting roles, then take a look at Tessa Dare's latest release!

When Alexandra Mountbatten arrives on Chase Reynaud's doorstep seeking employment as a clock setter, she is shocked to discover that he is the very same man she developed a crush on months earlier after bumping into him at a bookshop. To her surprise, she quickly realizes that their encounter did not impact her the same, for he doesn't even recognize her. Instead, he convinces her to become the governess he so desperately needs for his two unruly charges and in spite of trying to avoid such employment, Alexandra eventually relents, leading to close proximity with Chase and the sort of temptation that could end up breaking her heart.

Chase is a duke's heir and one of London's most notorious rakes. With no intention of ever marrying and producing an heir or forming an attachment, he makes every possible effort to keep his wards and his new governess at arm's length. But Alexandra has something else in mind and Chase soon finds himself taking his wards out for excursions and becoming increasingly involved in Alexandra's life. While he continues to struggle with feelings of unworthiness and pushing the people nearest to him away, he gradually opens his heart and allows himself to do what he dreads the most, which is fall in love.

A wonderful addition to The Duchess Deal and a thoroughly enjoyable read!

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Born to be Wilde by Eloisa James

Eloisa James writes beautifully crafted historical romances and Born to be Wilde is no exception.

Lavina Gray and Parth Sterling have been quarreling with each other for years. She finds him appalling... condescending... rude... while he considers her to be shallow. The last thing either of them want is an attachment with each other, but when Lavinia realizes that marrying Parth would save both herself and her mother from ruin, she determines to swallow her pride and propose.

Parth is completely taken aback by Lavinia's insistence they marry. He cannot for the life of him understand why she'd suggest such a preposterous thing and offers an alternative: to find her another fiancé while he romances a widow. The plan seems perfect, the potential outcome less so, for the more time Parth spends in Lavinia's company, the more he realizes that he wants her for himself.

This was a wonderfully written romance. Watching the hero and heroine argue with each other in the most creative ways imaginable was thoroughly entertaining. A story to be savored and one I would highly recommend.

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My Once and Future Duke by Caroline Linden

This book has a fantastic beginning. It starts off with a bang and continues on from there, taking the reader on a marvelously romantic adventure of high-stakes card play where the ultimate prize is love.

Ever since being orphaned and then abandoned at a boarding school for girls by her awful uncle, Sophie Campbell has known she would have to rely on herself to get by in the world. But becoming a teacher or a governess doesn't appeal and neither does being a mistress. Instead, Sophie chooses to rely on the gambling skills her father once taught her and after finishing school, she heads off to London to make her fortune. Her goal is four thousand pounds - enough to attract a gentleman suitor, she hopes, and gain the security and comfort of a respectable marriage. But when the Duke of Ware goads her one evening, she forgets her principles for a moment and makes the biggest mistake of her life - a mistake that promises to become the best decision ever.

When Jack Lindeville, Duke of Ware, arrives at the Vega club to pay his brother's debt, he is incensed at discovering said brother is gambling away additional funds. But when he sees the woman against whom his brother is playing, Jack finds himself not only transfixed but inexplicably jealous, and in a moment of utter madness, he wagers with her himself: five thousand pounds against one week of her company. The scandal promises to be ruinous, especially for her, and with Jack's abysmal luck so far, he's sure he stands no chance. But then he wins and his world is turned upside down, because the more time he spends with Sophie Campbell, the more desperate he becomes for her company and for the prospect of  uncovering the truth about this woman whose secrets run deeper than the English Channel.

Splendidly written with wonderful character development, dialogue and wit, this story will keep readers turning the pages late into the night. A story I highly recommend and know fans of historical romance are bound to enjoy.

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The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne

The Spymaster's Lady is a complex action-packed story that truly showcases this author's ability to create different voices so each individual character jumps off the page.

Annique Villiers, also known as The Fox Cub, is a French secret agent whose skill at "the game" is renowned. Captured by her enemies, she finds herself imprisoned with a couple of Englishmen and decides to form an alliance with them in order to make her escape. What she doesn't realize, is that one of these men is British Spymaster Robert Grey, whose sole mission is to find Annique and bring her back to England with him. So the moment they're all free, Grey takes her prisoner. Caught between the attraction she feels for Grey as they travel to England together, her loyalty toward France and her need to protect the secret she carries with her, Annique faces difficult choices along the way, only to discover that nothing is as it seems and that her greatest ally might actually be the man who betrayed her trust.

Fantastically written, this book has it all: a plot filled with twists and turns, danger lurching around every corner, a race to the finish-line, well-developed characters and lots of romance. A definite page-turner you'll want to start in the morning so you don't stay up all night!

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The Prince by Katharine Ashe

Soul-shatteringly romantic, this incredible tale is filled with endless amounts of passion, devastating heart-ache and a happily-ever-after for the ages. A true love story that will leave readers smiling with tears in their eyes at the end.

Determined to follow her dream of becoming a surgeon and keenly aware that she'll never be permitted to do so as a woman, Libby Shaw decides to disguise herself as a man. But when a portrait artist known as The Turk recognizes her for the woman she is, she realizes that maintaining anonymity will not be as easy as she initially thought and that she may need an ally to help her with her ruse. Falling in love was never her plan, but not doing so soon becomes as unavoidable as pursuing the education she so desperately craves.

When the woman whose lips have haunted Ziyaeddin for the last three years appears as a man at a surgical lecture, he is intrigued. When she begs him to keep her secret, offering herself as his subject in exchange for his help, he cannot resist the temptation. Especially since he knows what it is to live a secret life, exiled as he is from his homeland, a royal prince disguised as an artist. But he knows responsibility awaits him in Tabir and that he will soon be called on to do his duty, making the fierce attraction he feels toward Libby a dangerous distraction he must resist at all cost.


Katharine Ashe is exceptional. She possesses the extraordinary ability to render complex human emotion on the pages of her novels, and The Prince is no exception. A story that stands apart from the rest in its uniqueness, this is one romance readers will not want to miss and one that I would highly recommend!

Available for pre-order, this title will be released on May 29th 2018

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How To Forget A Duke by Vivienne Lorret

Vivienne Lorret's print debut is the perfect blend of deep emotion, compelling characters and the sort of romance that goes straight to the reader's heart.

When Society matchmaker, Jacinda Bourne, takes on the task of finding a wife for the Duke of Rydstrom, she soon suspects that the handsome and infuriatingly gruff aristocrat must have something to hide. Why else would he require an heiress with a large fortune to her name and insist she have no interest in sharing the same residence as him? Determined to investigate in the name of upholding her agency's good name, Jacinda heads to Rydstrom's cliff-side estate, only to wash up on the beach with a serious case of amnesia.

The last thing Crispin needs is an overly inquisitive matchmaker looking into his affairs. But when Miss Bourne is confined to his home and the doctor insists she mustn't travel on account of her health, Crispin finds himself in a bit of a bind. Because he doesn't just have to prevent Miss Bourne from uncovering his greatest secret. He also has to stop himself from falling in love with the cheerful young woman whose presence beneath the same roof as him threatens to be his undoing.

This is a delightful story that keeps the reader wondering how the hero and heroine will ever find their happily ever after right until the last few pages. Of course it all works out perfectly in the end, but getting there is a wonderful ride that no fan of Regency romance will want to miss.

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The Earl Next Door by Charis Michaels

A spectacular read that takes the reader on a thrilling journey into the past. This author's incredible skill is evident in the fact that I was completely enthralled by the building of a staircase :) 

When American heiress, Piety Grey, flees from her money-grasping mother and step-brothers, she runs as far away as she can - all the way to London. There she buys a house in desperate need of renovation and, discovering her handsome neighbor, Trevor Rheese, Earl of Falcondale, has experience as an architect, she does everything in her power to enlist his help, while he does everything in his power to push her away. So it comes as quite the surprise when Piety realizes she not only likes the grumpy man, but that she might in fact be falling in love with him.

Falcondale has one purpose: sell his home and leave England far behind. But when the beautiful Piety Grey comes crashing into his life, all his plans for the future are swiftly upended. No matter how much he wants to avoid getting involved in her life, he finds himself neck deep in her problems. Especially when her greedy relatives come to pester her. Falling for her was certainly not on his agenda.  So when his own past becomes an immediate threat, she becomes a liability, forcing him to examine his heart and what he really wants for the future.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was fun and engaging right from the start with compelling characters who spoke with their own distinct voices. Absolutely loved it!!! 

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Lady Be Reckless by Megan Frampton

Megan Frampton knows how to keep the pages turning and this new installment in her Duke's Daughters series is no exception.

Lady Olivia is hopelessly in love with Lord Carson and she is convinced he loves her in return. So when she proposes to him and he turns her down, she doesn't quite know what to do, besides persevere. She concludes that all she has to do is to prove herself worthy and he'll come around. Which means she needs a project - some way in which to help Lord Carson - and what better way is there than to make a respectable gentleman out of his illegitimate best friend by getting said friend engaged to a lady? Tenacious and optimistic, Lady Olivia is certain she'll succeed, even if it will require resisting a man whose kisses are oh so tempting.

Edward Wolcott knows Society only tolerates him because of his father's wealth. He is keenly aware that he will never be 'one of them'. But when his ailing father asks him to find a bride and Lady Olivia offers to help him do so, he decides to go along with it. For his father's sake, of course. Not because he wants to spend more time with a woman as lovely and tempting as Lady Olivia. She is after all in love with his best friend and would never consider marrying a bastard, which becomes a bit of a problem with Edward must acknowledge that he's done what he never intended to do and fallen in love with the lady himself.

This was a fun read with an incredibly kind-hearted hero who's trying to find his place in a world he doesn't fit into, and a heroine whose tenacity prompts her to fight for what she believes in, including the right to marry the illegitimate man of her dreams.

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The Trouble With True Love by Laura Lee Guhrke

A wonderfully romantic escape, The Trouble With True Love, is a captivating read starring a very determined heroine and the sort of hero you wish would come bursting into your office :)

Clara Deverill is in a bit of a bind. With her sister away on her honeymoon and her brother's return to England postponed indefinitely, she has no choice but to run her family's newspaper business. Which wouldn't be so bad if it only consisted of managing the employees. But unfortunately it also means becoming the infamous Lady Truelove, which poses a bit of a problem since Clara has no idea how to offer the necessary advice the Lady Truelove column requires. Until she happens to overhear a private conversation between two gentlemen involving a detailed outline of how to continue bedding a woman without having to marry her. Outraged and inspired, Clara embraces her new persona in an effort to warn all women of men and their devious trickery.

Rex Galbreith is an undeniable flirt and a well-renowned rake who never plans to marry. But then he meets Clara and everything changes. Because this beauty appears to have no interest in him at all while also disliking him for reasons he can't quite seem to figure out. Until he discovers she overheard him telling his friend how to avoid marrying his mistress and that she has in fact written an entire article about it in her newspaper. Furious, he threatens to tell the world that Clara is Lady Truelove, but instead, she turns the table on him and he finds himself not only working with her, but falling for her in ways he never would have thought possible.

This story was thoroughly entertaining, consisting of an interesting plot and strong characters who struggled against the irresistible tug of true love. A read I would thoroughly recommend without question and one which can be read as a stand-alone although the prequel, Dear Lady Truelove, is definitely worth grabbing as well.

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A Duke In Shining Armor by Loretta Chase

This is probably the funniest book I have ever read! The descriptions were marvelous, the dialogue hilarious and the romance one of those that just ends up working against all odds.

Bookish wallflower, Lady Olympia Hightower is supposed to marry a gorgeous duke. To everyone's shock and amazement, he has proposed and she is now decked out in her wedding finery and ready to attend the service. It is the right thing to do in order to ensure her family's financial security. She knows this. And yet instead of going to join her groom, she makes her escape through an open window after getting herself thoroughly foxed.

Hugh Philemon Ancaster, Seventh Duke of Ripley, is one of the three dukes the ton has dubbed 'Their Dis-Graces'. Miraculously, his best friend, who happens to share this moniker, has managed to get himself engaged to a respectable young lady, and has charged Ripley with ensuring that the marriage goes off without a hitch. This of course becomes a bit problematic when the bride enlists Ripley's help in climbing over the garden wall and even more so when he begins to develop feelings for a woman he knows he can never have.

Full of humor from beginning to end, this story is sure to delight. Impossible to put down, Loretta Chase has crafted a tale filled with memorable characters and a romance that is bound to go straight to the reader's heart. 

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Wilde In Love by Eloisa James

What a stellar beginning to a new series! The characters were well written (the hero utterly swoon-worthy) and the plot so intriguing I could not put this book down after picking it up. Fun and incredibly well-written, this story really showcases Eloisa James' skill as an author.

Lord Alaric Wilde returns home after years abroad to discover that he has become the most famous and desirable man in England. Women flock to his side, prints of him have become collectibles and the trendiest play in town is the one depicting his time in Africa. Horrified, Alaric seeks refuge in his father's castle. There he discovers that escaping celebrity is much more difficult than he expected and that the only woman he wants has no interest in him whatsoever.

Willa Ffynche enjoys her books and her privacy. She is an intellectual whose indifference toward Alaric's return could not be made more plain. Since her parents died in a carriage race years earlier, she has determined to steer clear of a reckless lifestyle. Instead she hopes to one day marry a man with whom she can enjoy a quiet and peaceful existence without the sort of adventurous behavior Alaric is so renowned for. But as she gradually gets to know him better, she begins to discover that there might be more to him than she initially thought and that resisting him will not be as easy as she had expected.

Filled with witty dialogue and an wonderful journey toward a well-deserved happily ever after, this book stands out - a definite must-read for any historical romance enthusiast!

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Douglas by Grace Burrowes

This is the first Lonely Lords book I've read and there's no doubt I'm going to grab the rest in this series. Grace Burrowes is an excellent author who stays true to the period in which she writes through wonderful usage of time-appropriate language and dialogue. If you really want to feel as though you've been swept away to the past, then this is the romance author for you!

Douglas Allen, Viscount Amery, has recently suffered the loss of his brothers, both of whom helped squander the rest of the family fortune. Determined to make a go at turning his situation around, he decides to seek advice in property management from a woman who comes highly recommended through a distant relation. But the lady in question is not at all ready to lend her assistance. She is standoffish and would rather show him the door than travel with Douglas to the property he needs help with. Cracking her prickly facade and securing her expertise will require cart-loads of charm, honesty and kindness on his part.

The cruelty Guinevere Hollister suffered years ago at the hands of a man still haunts her. It crushed her sense of self-worth and resulted in her seclusion from society. Since then, she has been taking care of one of her cousin's estates where she lives in blissful privacy with her daughter. The last thing she needs is a viscount intent on spending great lengths of time in her company. She especially has no desire to spirit away with him to some run-down manor where he might presume to take certain liberties. But as he convinces her that she isn't really living, but hiding, and because she owes him a favor, she eventually agrees to put her mistrust aside and accept his proposal.

I truly loved this story. The characters were compelling and lovable, the comic relief featuring dialogue between Gwen's cousins, thoroughly entertaining. A great read that I would highly recommend!

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A Daring Arrangement by Joanna Shupe

What a fantastic start to a new series!

This is the first Gilded Age romance I've ever read and I have to say, I wish there were more! Especially if they're this well written. A Daring Arrangement starts off with a bang, making the reader eager to know where this thrilling ride of a novel will take them.

Lady Honora Parker (Nora) has been shipped off to New York by her father after deliberately getting caught in a compromising position with the man she wants to marry - a struggling artist named Robert. But when her plan fails to result in the special license she'd hoped for, another plan must be devised. What better way to encourage her father to fetch her home to England and to Robert, than to form an attachment with the most scandalous man in New York?

Enter Julius Hatcher...

Julius is at first amused by the prospect of escorting Nora around Town. Certainly, she's easy on the eyes, but if there's one thing this bachelor investor will never do, it is marry. But when Nora assures him their "engagement" will never lead to that because she in fact hopes to marry someone else, he considers her proposal more seriously. After all, there could be benefits. Her title will certainly grant him access to places he's otherwise been denied, allowing him the chance to pursue a long-sought vengeance. 

The only problem is, that the more these two spend in each other's company, the closer they become and the more difficult it will be to leave emotion out of this daring arrangement.

Spectacularly written with all the glamour and glitz of New York's Gilded Age, this book is one you won't want to miss!

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Bliss by Lynsay Sands

This book was originally released in 2001 but this is the first time I've read it and I have to say that although I'm not a big fan of medieval romance, this one was such fun!

Lady Helen Tiernay and Lord Holden have never met and yet the pair can't stand each other. Helen knows Holden is a cruel and unforgiving beast of a man while he knows she's an impossible shrew. So when the king decides to put an end to their constant complaints about each other by demanding they marry, trouble ensues...

How creative can one woman be when trying to make her intended break off an engagement? The answer is very! From foul breath to lice infested bedding, Helen embarks on an all out attack. The fact that the man she's attacking is far more handsome and likable in person than she'd expected will not dissuade her. After all, she knows how he mistreats his people. Or does she?

Meanwhile, Holden is doing his best to stomach the drink and food he's being served while visiting Helen's home, not to mention the stench attached to his beautiful bride to be. Until he finds out that it's all a deliberate ploy to frighten him off and he decides to respond in kind.

If you haven't read this yet, I highly recommend that you do. There were several hilarious moments leading up to the tender ones that eventually lead to love between perfectly matched couple.

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Lady Be Bad by Megan Frampton

An entertaining story about self-discovery and daring to live life to the fullest.

Lady Eleanor's marital fate is sealed. She will wed Lord Carson, a perfectly amicable gentleman with whom she can expect a comfortable life. The union will save her family's reputation while giving Lord Carson the fortune he needs. It's the perfect marriage of convenience, crafted by the parents. Until Lady Eleanor stumbles into a devil-may-care scoundrel during a visit to a book shop, responding to him and the wicked book he's buying, in a way she's never responded to any man before. Which leads to a tricky situation when she discovers that the man in question is in fact her intended's brother.

Lord Alexander Raybourn loves his brother and wants nothing more than to see him happy. A disappointment to their father, Alexander knows no one expects much of him, least of all after he gambled away a large chunk of the family fortune in an effort to fix his father's poor business decisions. So when his very busy brother tasks him with spending more time with Lady Eleanor in his stead, he agrees, even though he knows it's a terrible idea. Because there can be no denying his attraction toward her - an attraction that only grows by leaps and bounds when he also agrees to help her live a little before facing the dutiful state of matrimony looming before her. 

This was a lovely story of two people torn between doing the 'right thing' and their own happiness. It's about taking a leap of faith, of risking it all for love and a chance at a better future than anyone could have predicted. Megan Frampton's writing is wonderfully witty and this new book in The Duke's Daughters series is definitely worth picking up.

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Love With A Scottish Outlaw by Gayle Callen

I don't read many highland novels so it's refreshing to do so from time to time, especially when the story is written by an author like Gayle Callen. She paints a vivid picture of setting, characters and the rough life people endured in 18th Century Scotland. I loved the earthiness of the story, devoid of lavish balls and expensive embellishments. This was real, the love that develops a struggle between trust and forgiveness.  

When Duncan Carlyle finds Catriona Duff wandering along a dirt road, he recognizes her as the daughter of his enemy. To his surprise, she claims to have no memory of who she is or anything else relating to her past. Taking her with him, Duncan uses this opportunity to seek revenge on her father. He wants the cruel laird involved in kidnapping children to know what it feels like to have his own daughter taken. But the situation is not as simple as Duncan believes - least of all when his attraction for Catriona begins to grow and he realizes how deeply he cares for her. Because he knows she will eventually discover his deception and that there bond will be broken the moment she does.

Catriona Duff quickly adjusts to her new situation, offering to help the women of Duncan's clan with the daily chores to show her appreciation for all they have done for her. And the more she gets to know Duncan himself, the more she starts wanting a life entirely different from the one she's left behind. He is her rescuer - or so she believes - a man who saves helpless children. How can she not love this brave man who's been nothing but kind toward her? The question is whether she will continue to love him  or not when she finds out how much he has lied.

A wonderful story, beautifully written and hard to put down once you get started.

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