This Just In!! (#4)

Like I've said before, I don't buy very many books. With the recent sale at Smashwords, however, not to mention the oodles of freebies in the Kindle Store on Amazon, I've stocked up on some interesting titles. Here are just a few of my more recent purchases. 

Just Purchased: 

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The Duke and I with Bonus Material by Julia Quinn. 

Product Description:

Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry - though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever! 

For a limited time, discover Julia Quinn for only $1.99! Plus, dip into excerpts from new releases by Julia, Elizabeth Boyle, and Caroline Linden. 

This book is on sale for a limited time in the Kindle Store ($1.99). I enjoyed the other Bridgerton novels and this was one I've never read, so naturally, I bought it. The Duke and I is book 1 in the Bridgerton family series.

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A Proper Companion by Candice Hern

Product Description:

Fans of the traditional Regency Romances of Georgette Heyer, Jo Beverley, and Carla Kelly will enjoy this witty romance from New York Times bestselling author Candice Hern. Robert, Lord Bradleigh, is a rakish earl with a recently arranged betrothal to a lovely young girl he barely knows. Emily Townsend is an impoverished spinster employed as a companion to his grandmother, the formidable dowager countess. Robert agrees to help his grandmother find a husband for the beautiful Emily, but how is he to bear the thought of her in another man's arms? This sparkling tale will take you from the Pump Room at Bath to the ballrooms of London as the unexpected and undeniable attraction between Robert and Emily blossoms into something more … something that could put one of them in danger. 

"Candice Hern is a striking talent of superior merit, one whose intelligence, wit, and craftsmanship are as impressive as her elegant romantic sensibility." --Romantic Times 

Now, unless I'm much mistaken, this is a re-release of one of Ms. Hern's older, traditional titles. Best of all, this title is FREE!*

*Any time a Kindle book is mentioned as being free, make sure it is in the Kindle Store BEFORE you push the Buy now with 1-click button.

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And from the local used book store...
I acquired paperback copies of Brighter than the Sun and On the Way to the Wedding (both by Julia Quinn) for $1 each.

Brighter than the Sun is book 2 in the Lyndon Sisters series. I wonder if I should box this one up until I acquire book 1? 

On the Way to the Wedding is the final installment of the Bridgerton series (book 8), all about the youngest Bridgerton male, Gregory. Since I just today purchased the Kindle edition of The Duke and I, I believe I'm only missing one from this series now, Romancing Mr Bridgerton.

On a slightly different note (but still book related), I'm working on a book giveaway. Something similar to the mystery collection (not actual mysteries, I just don't reveal the titles) I gave away several months ago on my author blog. Click HERE if you're dying of curiosity and just HAVE TO KNOW what I'm talking about. :O)

Happy reading!! 

~Book Review~ Off Leash

Off Leash by Jenna Anderson

My rating: 4.8 of 5 pearls

Oh my. Can I just say I LOVED this story? It is such a sweet, heartwarming, feel-good kind of story, the kind that brings a tear to your eye when you finish.

The heroine is someone anyone can relate to, trying so desperately to fit in somewhere and stamp out that little spark that tries to tell her she doesn't even like where she's trying to fit. I love that it takes a farmer, two dogs, three goats, and a whole town to show her what she really wants.

I can't even really object to the shortness of this novella. Ms Anderson packed so much into the 27,000 or so words that I'm not left feeling cheated. The romance is squeaky clean and the language is what I would call mild. Very, very well done!

Would I read more from Ms Anderson? Unless she drastically changes her writing, I'll read everything she writes! (And I'm not even a fan of contemporary romance.)

Other titles by Jenna Anderson: Healing Touch

 You can read my review of Healing Touch HERE.

*Disclaimer: I received this book free from the author. I was not paid in any way for this review. The views expressed here are my honest opinions of this work.

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Did I Review Your Book?

Have I reviewed one or more of your books or stories? Then grab this pretty little button to proudly display on your website or blog. (I saw this idea on Novella Reviews and LOVED IT so much that I whipped up a button of my own.) Simply follow the directions under the button located in the sidebar. You can choose the smaller button from the sidebar or take the larger one shown here. It's your choice.

The buttons here are PNG files. They have transparent backgrounds so the color of your site comes through. If you'd prefer a JPG button with a specific color background, just drop me an email at jaimeygrant{at}yahoo{dot}com and I'll send it along. 

If anyone's curious, the book in the pic is my 1931 copy of Three Eighteenth Century Romances, opened to a random page in The Romance of the Forest (1791) by Mrs. Ann Radcliffe. One day, I'll finish reading that story and review it too. :OP

~Book Review~ Healing Touch

Healing Touch by Jenna Anderson 
My rating: 3.3 of 5 pearls 

Warning: Language 

This was an enjoyable little romance novella with a humorous twist. Told in 1st person POV, we get a glimpse into the mind of a late thirties single mom, who just can't believe the handsome doctor in her tiny little town could possibly be interested in her. And he just won't take 'no' for an answer. 

The romance in this is totally clean. Tracy (the main character) does have a nasty habit of uttering a particular vulgarity that, while realistic, still pulled me out of the story every time she said it. I felt the frequency was a little much. 

Would I read more from Jenna Anderson? Yes, I think I would. 

*Disclaimer: I received this book free from the author. I was not paid in any way for my review. The views expressed here are my honest opinions of this work. 

View all my reviews on Goodreads

~Book Review~ A Matter of Choice

A Matter of Choice by Laura Landon 

My rating: 3.6 of 5 pearls

Warning: Mildly descriptive love scenes 

This was a decently entertaining read. I liked the characters and enjoyed the storyline. The idea of a woman making her husband sign a fidelity contract before their marriage was new to me, and therefore intriguing. 

I found the hero a bit of a stretch; his change to fidelity seemed a wee bit far-fetched. I think a bit of a struggle would have been a little more realistic. However, I did like him and found his anguish over his father's hatred quite believable and heart-wrenching. 

There were a few typos in the Kindle version I read (nothing too out of the ordinary or annoying), but the author must have decided to change the hero's name because he was called "Gray" a couple times near the end. 

I wouldn't classify this as "clean" but the love scenes were definitely not as detailed as most historical romances. 

Overall, I liked it and will probably read another book by Laura Landon. 

*Disclaimer: I was not paid in any way for this review. I purchased this Kindle book from Amazon. This review reflects my honest opinion of this work.

View all my reviews on Goodreads

More Winners!!

The winners have been announced in our 800 Member Celebration Book Giveaway in the Clean Romances group on Goodreads. Click over to see if you're one of the 30 selected to receive an awesome book prize! 

Thank you, group members and all those who entered the drawing! I hope our next giveaway is even bigger. Watch for it when we reach 1000 members!! 

~Book Review~ Margaret's Rematch

Margaret's Rematch by Farida Mastek 

fiction/romance/regency 

eBook (PDF) 

Get it from GirleBooks.com 

4.2 of 5 pearls 

Margaret's Rematch is a delightful Regency romp that reminds me greatly of Jane Austen's style of writing. I was amused throughout and at times, laughed outright at a description or two that were just too perfect in their delivery. Farida Mastek definitely has a knack for an Austenesque way of telling a story.

This is a totally CLEAN romance. I would definitely recommend this to any and all who enjoy Jane Austen.

**Disclaimer: I received this eBook from the author for the purpose of providing a review. I was not paid in any way and the opinions expressed here are my own.

~Book Review~ Heart of Fire

Heart Of Fire by Kristen Painter 

My rating: 3.4 of 5 pearls

Genre: Romance/Fantasy

Sensitive readers warning: Contains mildly descriptive love scenes. 

I started this book completely fascinated with the storyline, the characters, and the setting. I was interested enough in the concept and the characters that it held my attention, even though I read the Kindle version on my PC. (Talk about eye strain!) There were moments I laughed and a couple times I was surprised, I even recall tearing up a time or two. The author definitely touched my emotions. It held my attention but the writing felt...almost choppy at times.

While I wouldn't classify this as a "clean" romance, the author did keep a fairly "lights off" approach. The intimate interactions were descriptive but not graphic.

One last concern, I don't know if I got an older copy or what (I downloaded it a year ago and didn't think to check Smashwords for an updated, corrected copy), but there were numerous typos. One sentence was so bad that I still don't know what the author meant to say.

In summary: Would I read another book by Kristen Painter? Yes, I think I would.

Disclaimer: I purchased this ebook (full price) from Smashwords.com. I was not paid in any way, shape, or form for this review. This review reflects my honest opinion of this work.

View all my reviews on Goodreads

~Book Review~ Enchanting the Lady

Enchanting the Lady by Kathryne Kennedy

My rating: 3.7 of 5 pearls

WARNING: Contains detailed love scenes.

This book kept me interested despite three aspects that I don't particularly enjoy, namely a human hooking up with a were-animal, detailed sexual situations, and loads of magic.

But...that's the whole point of the story, isn't it? Why did I read it? I really enjoy Kathryne Kennedy's writing style; I adored The Fire Lord's Lover and this book held my attention almost as well.

Would I read more in this particular series? Probably not, but I will definitely read some of Ms. Kennedy's other books.

*Disclaimer: I have not been paid in any way, shape, or form for my review. The opinions stated here are my honest opinions. I received this book free from Amazon's Kindle Store. (Did I cover everything?) 

View all my reviews on Goodreads

And the Giveaway Fun Begins!

We have over 800 members in our Clean Romances group over on Goodreads and it's time to celebrate! Everyone's eligible* and there are 29 prizes up for grabs. (I'm giving away two copies of Honor and two copies of Deception!) Winners will be drawn and announced July 22. Head on over there now and get your name on the entry list! 

*Must be a member of Goodreads and the Clean Romances group to enter, both free. 

~Book Review~ The Fire Lord's Lover

Fire Lord's Lover by Kathryne Kennedy 

My rating: 4.8 of 5 pearls

Sensitive readers beware: Contains graphic love scenes. 

It says a lot for this book that it captured my attention and held it for the short span of time it took me to finish it (less than a day). After weeks of trouble finding a book to successfully hold my attention, this one wouldn't let it go. And I read the Kindle version...without a Kindle. (Imagine hours at a computer screen, straining your eyes because you just can't stop.)

Ms Kennedy built an interesting world, weaving the early Georgian era with a fantasy world of elves, dragons, and human-consuming plants. Her descriptions are beautiful, entrancing. 

This is predominantly a romance, however, and as is the case with most historical romances, the sex is rather detailed and plentiful. But I loved the hero and the heroine. There was a touch of reality to their relationship that I appreciated.

In summary: I will read more by Ms Kennedy.

Disclaimer: The views stated here are my own. I was not paid in any way, shape, or form for this review. I received the book free from an e-book retailer. (Does that cover all the legalities for writing a review?)

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Celebrating "Clean" Romance

Every few hundred members we celebrate with a giveaway in the Clean Romances group on Goodreads. We're over 800 wonderful members now and celebrating again. 

The sign-up thread will be posted early next week but in the meantime we're asking for donations. 

Are you an author of a "clean" romance (romance that leaves out the graphic sexual details)? This is an excellent, pain-free opportunity to promote your work. 

Are you an avid reader of clean romance? Why not share a gently read copy of one of your favorite books? 

The donation thread is HERE and we've already got 22 great romances up for grabs. I'll post to this blog again when the giveaway entry thread is up so you all have the chance to enter this great contest. 

FREE EBOOK--NO STRINGS ATTACHED!

My Regency romance, Betrayal, is available for free download from Smashwords in their site-wide Summer/Winter promotion. All you have to do is apply the provided code (located on the book page) in your shopping cart and confirm. You can then download the format best suited for your particular e-reading device. And while you're there, take the opportunity to check out the other books available for 25, 50, 75, and 100% off. Promotion ends July 31. If you do not enter the code, you will be charged full price. Don't forget!

Ebook Description
England 1816. Bri has been running for years. Just when she thinks she may have escaped those pursuing her, she finds herself thrown into Newgate Prison...where Adam finds her. Hired by Bri's family, he is determined to return the heiress posthaste. When it becomes clear that her family does NOT have her best interests at heart, she must accept Adam's help, something her pride will not allow.