~Book Review~ Loving Lucianna

Loving Lucianna 

A Hearts in Autumn Romance 

by Joyce DiPastena 

Genre: Medieval romance 

4.3 of 5 pearls 

WARNING: Mild violence, otherwise a totally clean and sweet read. 

 Disclaimer #1: I am friends with the author. The author is also a cover client of mine (yes, I designed this cover). The version I read was the beta version (arc), so there might be some differences now of which I am not aware. 

Summary: Lucianna has accepted the fact that she will never marry. There are things in her past she cannot undo, things that prevent marriage even if the right man comes along. When the right man does come along, it takes everything in her to resist him, and he refuses to take no for an answer.

The thing I love best about Joyce's books is the complete assurance that I will not encounter anything that makes me uncomfortable. I'll discover well-rounded characters, a well-researched corner of medieval history, and a sweet love story. This is certainly true of Loving Lucianna. And I love that this story is about a couple in the Autumn of their years.

I was immediately drawn to these characters and found myself eager to determine what this big secret was that prevented Lucianna from giving in to her desire to marry Sir Balduin. He was a charming man, and I felt the romance between them was believable and well-written. I enjoyed the flashback scenes, where we learned about young Lucianna. Ms. DiPastena did a fabulous job of easing the reader in and out of these scenes without disrupting the story flow. The end was satisfying.

I look forward to reading the final version of this story, which I'm sure is now a solid 5-pearl read. For the time being, I'll end this review here. :)

Disclaimer #2: I was not paid in any way for this review. The opinions expressed here are my own. The image does link to Amazon, and the link does contain my affiliate ID. I was given a copy of this book as a beta reader, not with the request for a review, but I decided to review it anyway. ;)

~Book Review~ Rising

Rising 
by Holly Kelly 
Genre: Fantasy romance

4.6 of 5 pearls 

WARNING: Very mild language but otherwise a totally clean read. 

A Dagonian warrior (don't even THINK of calling him mer!) is sent on a mission by his king and encounters a woman who, according to Dagonian law, should die. Unfortunately for him, he likes her. He really, really likes her. 

Oh my, oh my, oh my!! I started reading this book before bed one night, finally set it aside at 1am, picked it up again when I woke up at 6 and didn't set it down again until I was done. Seriously! I loved this book. ♥L.O.V.E♥ Fun and exciting! But that's just my opinion, so let's get down to brass tacks.

• Hero: Very nicely done. Sexy, alpha male, ruthless yet merciful, not exactly what I consider a bad boy, but he definitely has a few bad boy qualities. 
• Heroine: Sweet, but strong, very believable. I think Ms. Kelly did a fantastic job with the inner turmoil of the heroine.
• Storyline: Not too involved despite the "fantasy" element. Involved enough to be completely fascinating, however. There's some grit (which I appreciate), some heat, and a lot of heart. 
• Cons: Hmm. As far as the story goes, none that I recall. However, for this being a small-press published book (Clean Teen Publishing) rather than self, there were a lot more typos than I expected. Not quite enough that it ruined my joy in the story, but enough to make me notice. 
• Other points: My daughter took one look at the cover and asked if she could read the book. She's ten so my automatic reply was that I needed to read it first. After reading it, I informed her that she has to wait until she's at least 13. She's counting down the days now. ☺ 

In conclusion, would I read this again? Definitely. Will I buy the sequel and any other in the series from here on out? Um...YEAH! And guess what? You can grab a copy of this book for FREE by clicking on the cover photo above. That's right, the kindle edition of this book is free. Enjoy!!

Disclaimer: This review is for the first release of this book. I was not paid in any way for this review. The statements made here are my honest opinions. I acquired this e-book for free from Amazon at no urging from anyone. Except the cover. The cover made me download this book. Oh yes. LOVE the cover. Oh, last but not least, the link in the image above contains an Amazon affiliate ID. Any purchase made through the link will result in a small commission for me. If you don't want that to happen, simply strip the ID from the link and refresh the page. I think I covered everything. ☺

~Book Review~ A Kiss to Die For

A Kiss to Die For 

by Claudia Dain 

4.8 of 5 pearls 

WARNING: This book contains graphic love scenes. 

A bounty hunter chasing a serial killer lands on the doorstep of a sheltered young woman who likes to watch trains. 

I first read this book years ago, in paperback (the one with the BEAUTIFUL train artwork—see below), and I loved it then. A solid 5-pearl read then and a solid 5-pearl read now. It's not often you find a book that's just as good the first time as it is the second... or the fourth. I read it in less than 24 hours. 

• Hero: LOVE him, just plain love him. He's everything I love in a romance hero. Strong, misunderstood, unafraid of getting his hands dirty, or working hard. 
• Heroine: Quiet and unassuming, always does what is expected of her, doesn't speak up for herself until the hero urges her to. I love her quirk of watching the trains and even more so when her reason for doing so is revealed. Her gradual strengthening of spirit was real, believable. 
• Storyline: There were twists that surprise me every time. I cried more than once, happy tears and sad. Such an emotional ride in this story. That's hard to beat. 
• Cons: The one downside of this book is that if you're a scene skipper, like me, the one set of love scenes in this story aren't the easiest to just skip. There's some info contained within those scenes that's fairly important to the characterization and the story. Still, the story is one of the best I've ever read. 

This time I read the eBook and the cover art is adequate, nothing spectacular. I'm a wee bit biased about cover art, though, so all I'll say is the paperback art was so much better and so much more apropos, one of my all-time favorite book covers, to be honest. Claudia Dain has been a favorite author of mine for some time and she remains in that category.

*Disclaimer: I was not paid in any way for this review. I purchased the book (more than once). I do not know the author—although, if I'm totally honest, I sent her an email once and she was very, very nice. The views expressed here are my own. The cover at the top of this post is linked to Amazon, where you can grab an e-copy for yourself for only $0.99. The link does contain my affiliate code, which would result in a tiny commission for me, should you choose to make a purchase through said link. 

Did I cover everything? 

~Book Review~ Word and Deed

Word and Deed by Rachel Rossano 

My rating: 4.7 of 5 pearls 

Sensitive readers warning: None. There's no language, no graphic violence, and no graphic sex.

In case it matters to you: I know the author; she happens to be a good reading/writing/cover designing buddy of mine. So I got to read this before it came out and I liked it so much that I bought it. And no, I do not buy all the books written by my friends, just so you know. I'm too poor (i.e., cheap) for that.

That said, I loved it! It was sweet, gritty, fast-paced, and impossible to put down. Though there's no clear indication of time period or setting, it was not hard picturing a Medieval setting for this story.

My only complaint is I would have LOVED for it to be longer, with more tension (not that there isn't any--there DEFINITELY is), more mystery, just more, more, MORE! Ms Rossano does a good job of character-building despite the short length, so I have no complaints in that area. I just would have loved to spend more time with these characters.

Disclaimer: I purchased this book from Amazon. I was not paid in any way for my review. The opinions expressed here are my own. Purchasing through the Amazon link provided here will result in me earning a teeny, tiny commission. 

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~Book Review~ Whisper of Scandal

Whisper of Scandal by Nicola Cornick 

My rating: 4.5 of 5 pearls 

Sensitive readers warning: Contains graphic love scenes 

Wow. I started this book and didn't want to put it down. I thought about it when I had to put it down. I loved it.

The main characters were engaging. I even liked Alex, with his arrogance and ignorant determination to believe in his "friend's" honesty, thus believing Joanna to be a manipulative harpy. I thought it made him realistic. At moments it was irritating, but like I said, realistic.

My favorite part of this was the unusual setting. The Arctic in a Regency romance? That's awesome! It was fascinating and reminded me why I enjoyed Madeleine Brent titles so much, the exotic locales. My only beef was how long it took them to get there. Halfway through the book I was beginning to wonder if they'd ever go.

There are sex scenes, but they are skippable (if you're the skipping type) and the story stands on its own without them. At least, I think it does.

I will be reading the next in the series, One Wicked Sin, even though I didn't like Lottie in Whisper of Scandal. The setting is a parole town in 1813 and that intrigues me more than anything else.

Disclaimer: I purchased this paperback at Wal-Mart. I am not being paid in any way for my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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~Book Review~ Miss Isabella Thaws a Frosty Lord

Miss Isabella Thaws a Frosty Lord by Larissa Lyons 

My rating: 4.5 of 5 pearls

warning for sensitive readers: there is a graphic love scene at the very end 

I debated exactly what to rate this story, 4 or 5 pearls. Ultimately, though, it boiled down to one undeniable fact: Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. Thus, it receives 4.5 pearls from me (rounding up to 5). 

This novella is reminiscent of the older, traditional Regencies, fun and sweet. I could picture these characters so clearly and I adored their interactions. I laughed several times, smiled most of the time, and teared up at others. 

The final chapter, however, was one I skipped, mostly, as it was a love scene between the married H/H. It was a little too graphic for my personal tastes. Other than that, I adored this story.

I designed the cover for this story before reading it. I'm quite pleased with how well it matches. :O)

My Kindle copy was supplied by the author. I was not paid in any way for this review. The opinions expressed here are my own. Purchasing through the Amazon link provided here will result in me earning a tiny commission.

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~Book Review~ Wickedly Charming

Wickedly Charming by Kristine Grayson

My rating: 4.5 of 5 pearls

Oh my. I seriously didn't expect to enjoy this story but lately, I've been interested in fairy tale retellings. This one was hard to put down (even while using Kindle for PC) and made me laugh quite a bit. I really enjoyed Ms Grayson's style, even with the multiple "brackets-within-parentheses" in the story. I loved the characters even when I wanted to slap them all, just to wake them up a little. I loved the feel-good quality of the story. It left me with a happy sigh. There were typos, of course, more than I expected, but nothing so bad as to cause frustration.

My favorite line (one that made me laugh out loud, much to my husband's amusement): "(...it was her experience that anyone with a shred of power should be pitched across a room [or down a staircase] every once in a while.)" (Her is in reference to the heroine, Mellie.)

I was also pleasantly surprised by the lack of sexual details. That's hard to find in romances, especially contemporary-set ones. There was a little bit of language, but nothing that pulled me out of the story and certainly nothing that made me consider walking away from it.

I definitely didn't take this seriously. It was entertaining, different (for me, anyway), and lighthearted, though I do appreciate the underlying message.

Would I read it again? Probably.

Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure I downloaded this free from Amazon. I could be wrong about the free part, but I know I got it from Amazon. I was not paid in any way for my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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~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.

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~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. 

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~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.

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~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.

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~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?) 

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~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?)

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~Book Review~ Arms of an Angel

Arms of an Angel by Linda Boulanger

My rating: 5 of 5 pearls


Contemporary romance novella ~ 4.6 pearls


Overall, a great story with a great message. I teared up in several places and the happily-ever-after is beautiful. It's the perfect length for a quick read, one you can start and finish easily in one sitting. The romance is totally clean, as well.


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~Book Review~ Back in Society

Back in Society by Marion Chesney

My rating: 4 of 5 pearls

~Sixth and final installment in the Poor Relation series~ 3.9 pearls

Lady Jane is titled, beautiful, and the daughter of a peer. However, the abuse she's suffered at her father's hand drives her to the Poor Relation hotel, where she plans to take her own life. In an effort to save her, the owners give her a season. Two suitors vie for her hand; of the two, Jane gravitates toward the one she considers "safe."

As the final book in the series, all the main characters get their happily-ever-afters in this one. Most of the humor in this lies with the owners of the hotel, but it is humorous. Lady Jane's situation is a bit too much to be funny although some of her reactions to the relations are amusing.

All in all, a delightful series and well worth the few hours required to read it. Don't bother if you worry too much about POV switches and "-ly" words.

(In many ways, this story reminds me of Chesney's The Scandalous Lady Wright.)

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Back in Society (The Poor Relation, Vol 6) (Amazon link)
The Scandalous Lady Wright (A Regency Romance) (Amazon link)

~Book Review~ Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue

Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue by Marion Chesney

My rating: 3 of 5 pearls

~Fifth installment in the Poor Relation series~ 3.4 pearls

Colonel Sandhurst, the most dignified and proper elderly gentleman one can imagine, more or less kidnaps a young woman, intending to ransom her for what her father owes the owners of the Poor Relation hotel. The heroine is as sweet and innocent as they come, although we're supposed to believe she's been a tomboy up until right before the story started. I had trouble believing it. Still, the story is amusing, as usual.

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~Book Review~ Sir Philip's Folly

Sir Philip's Folly by Marion Chesney

My rating: 3 of 5 pearls

~Fourth installment in the Poor Relation series~ 3.2 pearls

Another witty book for an entertaining series. The heroine of this book is amusing as she tries to cope with a mother who wants to pass her off as much younger than she actually is. To add some Regency comedy, mother and daughter both want the same man.

As is the case with all the different Regency series that Ms Chesney wrote, much of the focus in this is on the recurring characters. In this series it's the ones who own the Poor Relation hotel, specifically, Sir Philip, whose choice of lady friends offends the rest of the hotel owners.

Warning to clean romance fans: This book is a bit more risqué than most of Ms. Chesney's Regencies, but by no means graphic.

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~Book Review~ Mrs Budley Falls from Grace

Mrs. Budley Falls from Grace by Marion Chesney

My rating: 3 of 5 pearls (reviewed Nov 18, 2010)


~Third installment in the Poor Relation series~ 3.4 pearls

Not as funny as the first two books but still quite amusing with a few laugh-out-loud moments. Marion Chesney continues to be an excellent author to pick up if one is looking for a humorous escape.

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Mrs. Budley Falls from Grace (The Poor Relation Book 3) (Amazon link)

~Book Review~ Miss Tonks Takes a Risk

Miss Tonks Takes a Risk by Marion Chesney

My rating: 4 of 5 pearls (Reviewed Nov 17, 2010)

The second volume in the Poor Relation series, this book is equally innocuous, pleasantly diverting, and a laugh-out-loud type of romance that the first volume is. The hero in this one was especially diverting. Again, an enjoyable way to spend an hour or two.

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