Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

I love this series! Though Magic Strikes did drag and tiny bit in the middle, it picked up and ended on a high note. I hope this author writes more in this Urban Fantasy series!
4.5 stars.

One Night To Be Sinful by Samantha Garver

One Night To Be Sinful by Samantha Garver
Historical Romance
Rating 4 stars


Read For:
RYOB Challenge
New Author Challenge
Themed Reading Challenge
A to Z Reading Challenge
Romance Club Reading Challenge
Romance Reading Challenge


Synopsis:

A fine and true friend, Calvin Garrett never anticipated what he would undertake in the name of loyalty to Lord Wolcott. Posing as a butler, he appears at the door of Wolcott’s fiercely independent sister, Abigail, charged with uncovering the strange and sinister happenings at her country home. Certainly, he hoped playing servant to an unconventional woman would be a short-lived task. But when he meets his stunning new mistress, the scheme he had in mind takes a turn for the tempting... Abigail has never encountered a butler so...magnetic. However, he comes highly recommended and she is desperate for help. The troubles and danger plaguing her estate are enough to make a sane woman cling to strong shoulders, but her awareness of her new employee has much more to do with a longing from deep within her heart. Clearly, she has bigger problems than a dizzying attraction to a male. Soon, though, sleepless nights filled with danger and desire form a volatile mix that promises to turn Abigail from a confirmed spinster into a woman ready for love…

My Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this Historical Romance. I like that the "wounded" character in the story was the heroine and not the hero. Abigail is a strong, smart heroine who has come back from tragedy to make a life for herself. The hero, Calvin, is a Marquis, born "on the wrong side of the sheets", raised in a workhouse, not knowing about his father until he inherits the estate on his father's death. Both leads are wounded souls-Abby physically and Calvin emotionally. The relationship was sweet and very romantic and the love scenes are in turn Romantic yet very hot:). A villainous side story completes this good book. The ending was a bit rushed, hence 4 stars, but I'd still recommend this book.

The Indifferent Earl by Blair Bancroft

The Indifferent Earl
Blair Bancroft
Regency Romance
215 pages
Rating-3.0 stars

Read For:
A to Z Challenge
RYOB Challenge
Spring Challenge
New Author Challenge
Romance Club Reading Challenge

Synopsis:
Before Abigail Todd can collect her inheritance, she must honor her grandmother's last wish-to complete a series of tasks with the Earl of Langley-and hopefully fall in love in the process.

My Review:
Overall, a cute Regency that ran about average throughout, picking up a bit the last 30 or so pages.

Interesting premise of an American spinster of 28 who runs an Academy for girls in America when she learns of inheriting a cottage in England. To fully inherit, she must complete a series of eight tasks from Clarissa, who Abigail learns is her grandmother whom she never knew about. A famous courtesan who lived her last 40 years as a kept woman of the heroes Grandfather. Abigail coincidentally is the spitting image of her grandmother.

I would have given this book more stars if there would have been more romance. For a book with a major character being a courtesan, there is surprisingly very little sexual chemistry.

Overall though I enjoyed The Indifferent Earl and I'd recommend this book.
3 stars.

Sleep Softly by Gwen Hunter

Sleep Softly by Gwen Hunter
3.5 stars
376 pages

Read for:
RYOB Challenge
A to Z Reading Challenge
Romance Club Reading Challenge
New Author Reading Challenge
Chick Porn Reading Challenge
Winter 08 Challenge

My Amazon Review:

his muse was murder.....,

January 15, 2009

Romantic suspense is not my normal forte', maybe that's why I enjoyed this book so much, as several other reviewers didn't seem to care for it. I enjoyed the story of Ashlee Davenport Chadwick, a forty something widow, who lives on her Rural South Carolina homestead farm with her matriarchal Nana, her biracial other grandmother and her college age daughter. Ashlee's already hectic life as a single mom and forensic nurse is turned upside down when one of her does brings her a child's red sneaker-and she's horrified to find a child's toe still in the shoe.

What follows is a fast paced suspense-part nursing/hospital drama, part Southern murder mystery, and a small part romance. I found the lead, Ashlee to be competent as well as caring, and I enjoyed reading a story set in the south as well.

While the book had flaws-they were minor in my opinion and didn't take away from the storyline. I'd recommend Sleep Softly to fans of Romantic Suspense and Woman Sleuths as well.
3.5 stars.

Romance Club Reading Challenge

Another Book On The Stack is hosting this HERE:

Here is the 2009 Romance Club Reading Challenge! Please choose one book for each of the following:

1. Read a romance by an author whose last name starts with "G"


2. Read a romance from a sub-genre you don't usually read from: contemporary, historical, romantic suspense, paranormal, etc.


3. Read a romance containing a titled name in its title such as viscount, duke, duchess, princess, prince, etc.


4. Read a romance published in 2009

Happy Reading!!!

My List:

"G" book-DONE-One Night To Be Sinful by Samantha Garver-Historical Romance-4 stars

unread genre-DONE-Sleep Softly by Gwen Hunter-3.5 stars-Romantic Suspense

"titled" book-DONE-The Indifferent Earl by Blair Bancroft-3 stars-Regency Romance

2009 published-DONE-Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews-4.5 stars-Urban Fantasy/Dark Fantasy with Romantic undertones (Curran! So hot:)