Duke’s Inconvenient Bride by Jayne Rivers

3 Stars

A jilted duke. A shy wallflower. A marriage of convenience that neither of them wants.

 

When Lady Emma Carlisle’s twin sister jilts the wealthy and influential Duke of Ashford, their distraught parents pressure shy Lady Emma to marry the duke in her sister’s place, dashing her hopes of a love match.

 

Lady Emma is determined to make the best of the situation, but her new husband is cold, aloof, and wants nothing to do with her. In his quieter moments, she catches glimpses of a thoughtful and intelligent man she’d like to know better, if only he weren’t determined to keep her at a distance.

 

Lady Emma is willing to offer the duke her heart, but she knows there’s every chance he’ll break it. After all, why would the handsomest man in the ton fall for his second best bride?

 

If you love the glamor of Bridgerton or the drama of Downton Abbey, then The Duke's Inconvenient Bride is your next must-read book.

This was an ok historical romance. It wasn’t the best or the worst. The drama with the sister irritated me. Add in the duke being an idiot. It was just an ok read.

Book 1 Unconventional Brides

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Raider’s Treasure by Leann Ryans

2 Stars

Lyric's quiet life was shattered when a raid on her village left her father and the alpha he’d promised her to dead. The warrior who caught her wants her for himself, but he destroyed everything she’d ever known, so how could she give in to her omega nature?

The raider intended to take her whether she was willing or not, but he offered the other omegas a choice if she cooperated. She’d never had the option to choose her mate, but could she forgive Raider for what he'd done and learn to trust him so the others could have the choice she'd been denied?

This book felt very unfinished. Your dropped into a story with zero world building or character development. You get 0 connection between FMC and MMC. This leads to me thinking it’s a meh read.

Book 1 Alpha Barbarians

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Alcott Hall by Emily Rath

3 Stars

The Lady has an offer.

The Vicar has a Confession.

Lady Madeline Blair is on a mission. Her eccentric late aunt left her a small fortune with one condition: to claim it, Madeline must marry by New Year’s Eve…which is now only three weeks away! When she receives an invitation to spend Christmas at Alcott Hall, she sees this as the perfect chance to snag herself an unsuspecting beau. She will be generous with her inheritance, providing him with a comfortable living. All he has to do is agree never to claim his rights as her husband.

Five years ago, Charles Bray left Finchley and never looked back. It was too painful to dwell in the past. So, when duty calls him home, he returns, heart heavy, to a town full of ghosts. Seeking any distraction, he sparks an unlikely friendship with a quiet young lady who makes him a surprising offer too good to refuse.

And then there's John...

I so wanted to love this book but Charles irritated me too much and I wanted Madeline to end up with John. John and her deserved better than Charles waffling behavior. I also had issue with some modern idioms being used. I also remember blowing through the other books and this one I kept putting down. Overall it was just fine.

Book 3 Second Sons

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His Forgotten Bride by Aydra Richards

3 Stars

Claire thought she had everything seven years ago. She was married to the Marquess of Leighton and everything was going to be set that is until she found out the marriage license hadn’t been worth anything and the Marquess’ father through her out. Pregnant and alone she did what any woman in her position was to do found a position in a household to earn money to send to her sister to take care of her baby. After seven years of struggling she takes a new position in her husband’s household. He doesn’t remember her at all but he does lust after her. When he finds out the truth will they find a way to be together?

I have never been so angry with a character as I was with Gabriel. He is the one who forgot his wife, Claire but she’s to blame for keeping their son from him. He did everything she feared and couldn’t understand why she kept the son a secret. He turns everyone against her and then all is forgiven. Like she’s about to leave the estate without her child because even the son is siding with daddy dearest. Most of the help has left because of his antics and not wanting to work with her. It was bad and he eventually realizes what he’s done and sort of makes it up to her and she forgave him to readily for everything he put her through. If you are looking for a historical romance with a lot of drama this is the book for you.

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Taming the Wolves by Lyx Robinson

 

3 Star

After finding out the truth of her marriage Tamsin knows everything is changing whether it be good or bad it has been yet to be seen. Tamsin’s people have been discovered and people want her kinswomen. Can she find a way to keep them safe?

This started right where the first one ended. It was an enjoyable read but there was a pacing issue. There were times the book moved nicely but then other times the book just dragged which made it difficult at times to read. I still enjoyed the story overall. There isn’t that much spice so far. It is very much a slow burn so far. You can see who she’s going to end up with at this point and it will be interesting to see if all plays out. Can’t wait to read the conclusion of the story.

Book 2 Viking Omegaverse

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Stolen by the Wolves by Lyx Robinson

 

3.5 Star

Hordes of Vikings are pillaging through the countryside of Northumbria and Ireland. Tamsin has always yearned for adventure. With the looming threat of the Vikings her community is looking for allies. When three lords of Dublin show up with a promise of help Tamsin is unsure if they can be trusted but she is drawn to them. Are they really the saviors for her people or will they cause more problems?

I liked this story a lot and if it didn’t end in a cliffhanger I would have rated this a solid 4 but it does end on a cliff. The writing is fantastic with amazing worldbuilding. I loved that we went historical in this omegaverse. The characters are well developed. The pacing is spot on, and it moves nicely. I was really digging the whole story when we got to the end and said NOOOOOO because it just ended. Can’t wait to read the next book.

Book 1 Viking Omegaverse

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Wolf’s Lady by Jessica Marting

 

3 Star

Lady Adelle Thornber was caught in a compromising situation she's forced to go to the wild's of Scotland to marry the reclusive baron. Lord Henry MacAulay is not what she was expecting. He is the sole heir to the Roseheath title and alpha of his pack he needs to find a mate. He expected to pick his own mate at some point but with being forced into a marriage with a disgraced noble woman and his secrets what kind of marriage can they have? The more time they spend together the deeper in love they become but Henry's secret is still between them. He is terrified once she knows Adelle will leave him. What happens when it's all revealed?

I enjoyed this one a lot. It's a historical romance but also paranormal. Lady Adelle is a strong character and Lord Henry was a caring man. Neither wants to upset the other but they end up falling in love with each other and it was super sweet. Definitely light and quick read.

Book 1 Magic and Mechanicals

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Girls Before Earls by Anna Bennett

 

3 Star

Miss Hazel Lively had a difficult childhood. Now that she’s an adult she’s trying to start a school for young girls. She must do everything in her power to maintain her a good reputation. When Earl of Bladenton Gabriel Beckett shows up to drop off his niece she has some rules he will have to adhere to. Gabriel is not sure what to do with his new responsibility for his niece and figures a school is the perfect place to keep her in line. What he wasn’t planning on was falling for the school mistress. Will they find a way to make it work?

I liked the set up and premise of the story. I just didn’t buy the relationship between Hazel and Gabriel. Not just that but through most of the book Gabriel is involved with someone else and he still sleeps with Hazel. It was just icky. Not one of Bennett’s better books.

Book 1 Rogues to Lovers

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Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath

 

3 Star

Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland needs a wife. With the help of Miss Pettypeace is his secretary he hopes to find a wife. She would love to take that role but doesn't feel worthy enough to be his wife. He is happy with her taking the lead on the search but soon finds himself more interested in her then finding a wife. When he finds out the truth about her will they have their happy ending?

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The twist at the end didn't work for me at all. The secret was when Penelope was young she posed naked for an artist who sold those prints for and wide. This led to her being booted from her family from the shame. I have no problem with this part of the story. a lot of women did what they had to, to survive. I just wasn’t a huge fan of Hugh. He never really does anything to win over Pen and I wanted her to get someone who deserved her. Overall, it was a fine book just not one of my favorite.

Book 2 Once Upon a Dukedom

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A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman

 

4 Star

Madeline Montgomery and Earl of Powys Gryff Davies’ families have had hundreds of years rivalry. To keep the dispute going they must meet at a certain location every year, or the other family gets the land. Madeline wasn’t expecting Davies to show up, but he did. Davies is bored with the country life but loves poking at Madeline to get her ire up. With secret tunnels and smugglers make them realize their hate was attraction and possibly love.

I enjoyed the first half of this book. My biggest complaint is the miscommunication that happens about halfway through the story. Gryff says some very asshole things to her and never apologizes for what he said even though he had ample time when they were trapped in the cave, but he never says anything. Then they have another misunderstanding Maddie puts distance between them because she thinks he wants her for a mistress and not a wife. Instead of talking it out she ignores him which solves nothing. Even with these two issues I enjoyed the story and can’t wait for the next one.

Book 1 Ruthless Rivals

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The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

3 Star and I feel like I am being generous with that 3

Lady Penny has been left to her own devices to rescue animals and find them a proper home.  When she loses her new parrot to the neighbors house she decides she will just let herself in to bring it home.  What she doesn't plan on is running into the new owner Gabriel.  Gabriel needs her to not have so many animals around so he can sell the house he is remodeling but he needs her to stay so people will want to buy his house for the connection to Lady Penny.  To help keep her he agrees to help rehome all the animals.  He doesn't expect it to take that much time but Lady Penny isn't going to let just anyone take them home.  The more time they spend together the more he doesn't want to let her go.  

The writing was like all of her other books but I was a bit bored with this one.  I also felt like the story was more modern for a historical romance.  Modern issues are thrown in as a big to do.  Penny is weird and not in a cute way and she frustrated me.  The characters also felt more one-dimensional than other books.  We find out more about Penny's pets than about Gabriel's past. He  grew up and was in the work house but that is about all we know about him.  Not what lead to him being there or how he got out of them.  Overall, meh.

Audio: 

Loved listening to Mary Jane Wells.  She did an excellent job giving each character a voice that was distinctly theirs.  She did the best she could with the story she was narrating. I also didn't have any issues listening to the British accent at a faster speed.  She is definitely a narrator that I will be listening to again.

Book 3 Girl Meets Duke

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An Unlikely Countess by Jo Beverley

 

4 Star

Honorable Catesby Burgoyne has left the military and after an argument with his brother the Count he's decided to drown his sorrows in alcohol.  One night while stumbling home he comes across a woman being accosted.  He steps in and saves Prudence Youlgrave and escorts her home.  Her life is in shambles due to a brother who has abandoned her to poverty.  Catesby does what he can without over stepping but is called home because of an emergency.  When Prudence once again needs rescuing he steps in and marries her.  Will she be able to handle being a Countess when she wasn't raised to be a Countess?

Normally I don't start books in the middle of a series but this was one of the books I got at a library book sale and I'm trying to work through if they are keeps or get rid of.  This was definitely a keep.  It was a friends to lovers slow burn book and I loved it.  Catesby tries to be honorable and make it clear they didn't marry because she was with child but because it was a "love" match.  It was interesting to see the struggle Prudence had with adjusting to being a Countess.  The only downside to the book was there wasn't any sex scene until the very end.  There was some very heavy petting but that was about it.  I now want to go back and read all of the books in the series.

Book 11 Mallorens & Friends

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A Certain Wolfish Charm by Lydia Dare

 

3 Star

Lady Lily Rutledge has taken care of her nephew since her sister's death.  In the last couple months his behavior has changed.  She needs the help of his guardian Simon Westfield, the Duke of Blackmoor, but he is not interested in helping.  When she writes he sends money.  She decides to confront him in person.  He disregards her feelings as she's too emotional but he starts to wonder if he might have the same affliction that he and the rest of the family has.  He brings both Miss Lily and her nephew to his home and in the process ruining her.  Forced to marry will he accept her as a mate or keep her at arms length.

This book is a weird book.  That is the best way I can explain my reaction to the book.  It wasn't bad per se but it also wasn't good either.  There were several times that I became frustrated with how stupid certain characters were.  The big one was how did Simon not realize his cousin's son would inherit the wolf that he, the cousin, the brothers, and his father all had.  Ultimately I am going to read the next book because it was so bad it was good enough to read the next.

Book 1 Westfield Wolves

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Scoundrel in Her Bed by Lorraine Heath book 1 of Sins for all seasons – 3 Stars

Lady Lavinia Kent is seeking redemption for her past.  When her path crosses with Finn Trewlove, a man from her past.  They can’t fight the love they have but when the truth comes out will they be able to live with their new truths.

I love most of the other books written by Lorraine Heath and I wanted to love this story too.  The plot was good, so were the characters and the character development.  What didn’t work for me was you would have a chapter in the current time and then a chapter of their past.  It was back and forth through about half the book.  The scenes from their past didn’t enhance the present story-line.  For me it detracted to the point I skipped a couple chapters because I wanted to continue the current storyline.  I didn’t care that Finn rescued Lavinia’s horse from being killed.  It wasn’t vital to the timeline.  The book had a prologue where Lavinia gives birth and that is all I needed to understand the current timeline.  I didn’t need the full backstory of how they met and fell in love and ended up being split up to become invested in the romance. 

Once the back and forth was done the story picked up for me and I enjoyed it immensely.  Both Lavinia and Finn were screwed over by Lavinia’s parents in different ways but they were able to come together in the end.  The whole story-line about their baby just made me so sad.

Overall I enjoyed this book.  Particularly when Lavinia and Finn got their well-earned Happily Ever After.

Fireweaver by Julie Moffett book 1 MacInness Legacy – 4 star

In 1792 Salem Massachusetts, Bridget Goodwell is preparing for her wedding to her friend Peter Holton.  Though her future seems set, all is not what it seems.  She has the power to set things on fire.  Just three weeks to go for her wedding and her childhood friend Benjamin Hawkes sails back into town and puts everything Bridget thought she wanted in peril. 

The story was a little slow to get into.  The prologue didn’t read true to the 1600 speech but once we get to the “current” time the book picked up a bit.  There were some slow parts throughout and they became frustrating.  Even with the pacing issues the book was enjoyable.  Seeing the relationship between Bridget and Benjamin what made the story.

I think the most frustrating part for me was the conflict wasn’t really a conflict.  It seems like this book and maybe the next book will lead to the big confrontation in the third book.  I am not sure that I like that.  It means the books don’t stand alone because you really need to read all of them to get the whole story.  There was a lot of build up about the curse but it’s just kind of sitting there waiting. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series.  Here’s hoping there are some more answers in that book.

Mad, Bad, and Dangerous in Plaid – Suzanne Enoch – 3*

Mad, Bad, and Dangerous in Plaid – Suzanne Enoch – 3*

This book just irritated me. Normally I love Suzanne Enoch's books but this one just missed for me.

Rowena MacLawry had been in love with Lachlan MacTier her whole life. Lachlan felt she was like a little sister until she is no longer obsessed with him and then he must have her.

This irritated me. He fell for her almost instantly after she told him she was no longer interested in him. I could see if there was time from when the pressure was off of him to marry her to when he realized he loved her and needed her but it was probably less than 12 hours.

I think the best part of the book was how her brothers made him prove his worth. Their attitude was you had her, didn't want her, and hurt her now prove you deserve her.

How to Manage a Marquess – Sally Mackenzie – 3* ARC

How to Manage a Marquess – Sally Mackenzie – 3*

 

How to Manage a Marquess is the second book in the Spinster House series.  This book can stand on its own.  I haven’t read the first book yet and was able to follow along the story just fine without reading the first book.  Miss Anne Davenport is trying to win the spinster house so she can leave her father’s house.  Nate the Marquess of Haywood is trying to keep his cousin safe from a family curse.  Anne tries to get her friend Cat to marry Nate’s cousin so she has less competition for the home.  Nate can’t let this happen since he promised his dying mother he would protect the Duke.

I really wanted to like this book.  I have read a couple of her other books and liked them.  There is humor in all of them which I love.  This book did have humor but the characters to me were very unlikable.  Anne was whiney and a bit annoying.  While Nate was meddlesome and that just rubbed me the wrong way.  There were times where the book was quite enjoyable but about half the time I wanted to smack them and tell them to get over their issues.  The only time I didn’t feel that way with Anne was when her father announces he is getting married without telling her and then the stepmother’s family volunteers her to take care of her new stepbrothers.  She had every right to get mad at the situation since she was being pushed aside with no consideration.  In addition to this her stepmother’s family send her with her stepbrothers and Nate home.  She is unmarried and has no maid so no chaperone.  As soon as that happened you know they are going to get stuck somewhere which they do.  Even though they are caught alone they don’t marry but somehow her reputation remains intact.  Nate had his own issues.  Up until the end of the book he thought it was a bad idea for his cousin to marry.  He is all the curse the curse.  You can’t do what you want because you will die.  I won’t allow it.  Bah the man is grown and can do whatever he wants even if it kills him.

A couple other things that irritated me were how they addressed Anne and the timeline.  Everyone kept calling her Miss but her father was part of the nobility so I don’t understand why she wasn’t Lady Anne.  At one point in the book it is noted the stepmother is a year younger then she is and Anne is 26.  Her mother passed 10 years ago right after her first season this would make Anne 16 when her mother died.  My understanding is most girls didn’t reach marrying age until they were 17.  Maybe I am wrong and she came out at 16 but it just bothered me. 

Between the behavior of the main characters and some disparity in facts as I believe them to be I couldn’t love this book.  I am going to pick up the first book to see if it is better and I will probably get the third book when it comes out.

ARC copy provided by Net Galley

Ransomed Jewels – Laura Landon – 4*

Ransomed Jewels – Laura Landon – 4*

 

Ransomed Jewels is a historical romance set in 1855 in England.  The Marquess of Huntingdon is a spy for England.  While on a mission in Paris where he and Major Samuel Bennett were tasked with stealing some jewels which were being used to finance war.  Instead of just taking what he was supposed to the Marquess stole a necklace and some papers.  He is killed in front of Major Bennett and with his dying words he says his Marchioness has them.  This sets the Major and a handful of bad men after Lady Claire.  The Major and Lady Claire meet when he interrupts her being assaulted by a Russian.  The major believes she has the necklace and papers through most of their interactions he demands she hand them over.  Through most of the book Sam and Claire bump heads until the conclusion where they end up together.

For the most part I enjoyed this book a lot.  There were some things that rubbed me the wrong way.  One of the big ones is no matter how much Claire’s actions show Sam the kind of person she is he keeps thinking horrible things about her.  He blames her for his friend stealing the jewels, for not giving the Marquess an heir, and then how she resolves the necklace conflict.  It was very frustrating the way most of the men in Claire’s life treated her. 

This next part is a HUGE spoiler so if you don’t want to know stop reading!!!!

 

Claire’s husband never slept with her because he was already married to someone else at the time of their wedding.  He married an actress who his father didn’t like and would disinherit him it came out.  Yes he was in love with this woman and had four children with her and in his own way he was staying true to his wife by not sleeping with Claire but he committed bigamy to keep his father happy.  He guaranteed his first family, heir and wife, would be shunned by society as well as making it almost impossible for Claire to be able to marry someone else.  This plot line really bothered me for a number of reasons.  First and foremost is the father could not disinherit his son of the title.  He could take away the money and land that wasn’t entailed but anything that was entailed would have to go to the son/grandson.  Second he guaranteed Claire would live a loveless marriage without children and once it came out she would not be welcomed by most.  The Marquess basically made his family he loved live in secret to appease his father and was a bastard to the wife he was forced to marry who was also forced to marry him.  Yes he kept her virginity intact but seriously it would not have mattered.

If it wasn’t for that plotline this book would have been a 5 star book for me.  I cruised through it and wanted more but it really really pissed me off.

Week 3

Dark Lady by Maire Claremont *

Dark Lady is a brand new Historical Romance by Maire Claremont.  Lord Ian Blake returns to England from India to make amends to his first love Eva.  He finds that she has been placed in a asylum by her brother-in-law after the death of her infant son.  He breaks her out and sets out to prove that she is not crazy like her brother-in-law says.

 

It was an okay book.  I was interested in what happened to the two main characters to lead them where they ended up.  Even though I was interested it was very drawn out and there were many times I wanted to smack both main characters for being idiots.  The main storyline has been done before in better ways.  The brother-in-law has her committed to keep questions from being asked about the little accidents her son encountered before is untimely death.  Over all there were interesting aspects to the book but by the time the book ended I was more than ready for it to be done.

 

Spoiler!!!!

 

The part I had the hardest time believing was towards the end when it is revealed that her son wasn’t actually killed but was whisked away by a couple of the servants who knew of the plotting and wanted to protect the child.  While the thought is noble they let her be put away into an asylum when they knew her child was a live.

 

Presidential Pets by Julie Moberg ****

 

This is a cute children’s picture book.  For each president there are little facts about the different animals the president kept while in office.

 

The Pictures were caricatured but well done.  There were facts about the president, his office, and family.  The best part was the facts about the pets.  There were cows, horses, elephants, cats, parrots, and alligators.  This is an amazing book for children and adult alike.

 

Blizzard of Glass by Sally M Walker ****

 

This Nonfiction Young Adult book is a story about the Halifax explosion of 1917.  On December 6 1917 two ships collided in Halifax Harbor.  Two towns were leveled, Halifax and Dartmouth and killed over 2000 people.  While relief aid was immediate the help was constrained due to a blizzard.  This story is told through the perspective of each member of 5 different families.

 

This was not a story I had heard of previously but was very interested in it when I read the description.  It lays out the timeline of what lead up to the boat explosion and what happened to the people who were affected by it. 

 

How to Tame a Willful Wife by Christy English *

A Historical Romance that is likened to Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.  Anthony Carrington, Earl of Ravensbrook is former military and demands obedience.  Caroline Montague is promised to the Earl by her impoverish father.  Montague’s parents have allowed her to do as she wishes.  It is a battle of wills to see who will win.

 

When I read the description of the book I couldn’t wait to read this book.  Probably about a third of the way through the book I wanted to put it down and not finish it.  The male protagonist pissed me off so much.  It was his way and only his way.  At one point in the book he went into Caroline’s room and is inappropriate with her and then blames her for it.  The female protagonist was even worse.  She was the independent free spirited woman until her father marries her off to Earl of Ravensbrook.  She falls in line and turns into a completely different person.  I understand that there were rules she had to adhere to but to go from one extreme to the other was just unacceptable.

Books read this week

Books in Review:

Sword of Raven by Diana Duncan   ***
This paranormal romance is about Delaney Morgan whose life falls apart when her cop brother is arrested and convicted for corruption.  She finds out that she has magical abilities and everyone wants her.  Some to help and train her and others who want her essence.

It was a good story and it moved along nicely.  There were some moments in the book where the story seemed to jump ahead and it wasn't made clear so the reader was left to figure out what was happening.  Overall I will definetly be looking for the next book in the series.

If you can't stand the heat by Robin Allen **

If you can't stand the heat is a mystery set in Austen Texas.  Female protagonist Poppy Markham has left her family restuarant to be a health inspector.  Her father has her help out on the grand reopening.  During the evening Michelin-rated chef Évariste Bontecou is murdered and Poppy's stepsister Ursula is the prime suspect.  Poppy's father and stepmother expect her to figure out her is the actual murderer.

This was an ok story.  The mystery part of the story was really good and interesting.  However, the problems I had with the story were the interaction between Poppy and her family and former boyfriend.  There seemed to be a backstory about what happened with the boyfriend that was alluded to but not really explained.  Her family kept asking her to deal with the murder but were rude and obnoxious to her.  I don't know how many people would be willing to solve a murder to get someone off who was being that nasty to you.


Weddings can be murder by Christie Craig ***
Weddings can be murder is one of Christie Craig stand alone romances.  Katie Ray is about to be married and is having a massive case of cold feet.  She flushed her $8,000 engagement ring down the toilet by mistake.  Katie shows up for a meeting with her wedding planner and witness the wedding planner being murdered.  She ends up locked in a closet for 18 hours with P.I. Carl Hades.  After getting out of the closet she breaks off her engagement and ends up in protective custody with Carl.

I liked the storyline for the most part.  It was well written and flowed nicely.  The issue came in with the romance between Katie and Carl.  She breaks up with her fiance and starts up with Carl the same day.  It just didn't seem very realistic but it was interesting to see how Carl got himself out of trouble after pancaking twice.

Warrior Trainer by Gerri Russell *

Scotia was raised to protect the Stone of Destiny from everyone as well as, train everyone from the Scottish clans.  Ian MacKinnon has come to train with her so that he can defeat the four horseman who are terrorizing all of Scotland.

The premise of the story was interesting but there were to many complications in the story.  The romance was slow starting.  Ian and Scotia would get together then break apart and then they would sort of get back together just to not end up together.  The action was also very slow to start and then it was done.  The build up was long and extensive and then it was done.  I would have prefered there to be less build up.

Genie knows best by Judi Fennell ****
Sequel to I dream of genie.  Samantha Blain has just lost her father and found out her soon to be fiance is only using her for her inheritance.  When she finds a bottle in her father's safe she discovers a genie named Kal.  Kal is on probation and once he finishes granting all of Samantha's wishes he will finally be off probation.  The problem is he doesn't want her to finish her wishes because then they will be done with each other.

This was a funny and sexy book.  Drama and chaos throughout the book but it all ends up the way it should in the end.  I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara *****
Kaylin was born and raised in Nightshade fief until a slew of murders made her run.  She ends up in the City of Elantra.  She became a hawk patrolling the streets until the murders start again.  She has to confront her past to prevent more deaths.

This was a very well written fantasy novel.  The story moved and there was enough details throughout the story to not feel like the reader was missing vital details while leaving information to be uncovered in later books.