One More Kiss (Pennistan #5) By Mary Blayney

RATING: 4.5 Out Of 5 Stars

Beatrice Brent and her twin sister, Cecilia, is attending a house party that their godmother is hosting for their benefit, at their father’s behest. Because he would love nothing more, but to have them snag a titled gentlemen.  Beatrice doesn’t care if she gets married and is only attending to support Cecilia. But when the eligible gentleman start showing up, their is one that grabs her attention, Lord Jessup Pennistan…
Lord Jessup Pennistan, known is Jess to friends and family, is a gambler and has scandal attached to his name. After losing his land that was left to him from his mother to his arch-nemesis, Lord Crenshaw, he attends the house party fully intending to when his land back from. But he never thought he would be distracted by Miss Beatrice Brent, whose curiosity knows no bonds…
Even though Beatrice’s father told her to stay away from Jess, she can’t help flirting with him when the opportunity strikes. And when Jess saw his arch-nemesis Lord Crenshaw seems to have an interest in Beatrice, he only wanted to make sure it was one sided. But after their first kiss, they both can’t seem to stay away from each other, even though Jess tries to keep a distance, he can’t help having “One More Kiss”…

When I first read the synopsis of this book it looked like the hero and heroine of the book was Jess and Beatrice, so I will admit to some confusion when it the author transitioned to the secondary hero and heroine, Lord Destry and Cecilia. For me it was like reading 2 books in one. But after reading a few chapters in the book I was able to get into the story and enjoyed reading how each of the couples are able to get closer or overcome whatever obstacle turns up.
I enjoyed most of the characters. They each had a singular quality that made them likeable, but I will admit that I adored the what I will call the main hero and heroine of the story, Jess and Beatrice. They follow the phrase that opposites attract, and were opposites in every way. I liked how even though everyone told Beatrice that she shouldn’t get close to Jess, because of his reputation, she didn’t and was able to get to know the real man behind  the name and he in likewise was able to get to know Beatrice. And I enjoyed reading their sweet romance. Destry’s and Cecilia’s story was cute, but their were times when I thought the Cecilia’s views of why they shouldn’t be together were nonsensical, but I was happy when whe started viewing the probability of their relationship differently and was delighted that they had their own happy ending.
I did appreciate this book was a clean romance, with just the right touch of incalescence in the book. And the author did a good job in linking Jess and Beatrice’s story with Destry’s and Cecilia’s story. And was pleased that it didn’t stop the flow of the story as I read. This was the first book I read in the Pennistan series and when I have an opportunity I plan to go read the ones I have missed.

Advertisement

Dancing with the Duke (Landing a Lord 0.5) by Suzanna Medeiros

RATING:

4 Out Of 5

REVIEW:

Alex, The Duke of Clarington is in the worst place possible… Almack’s at the beginning of the season, all do to a promise he made with his mother and sister to have one dance with his sister’s best friend, Charlotte, to launch her into society. Its been 7 years since Alex has last seen Charlotte Grant, who was gangly, always blushing around him, and stuttering every time she spoke to him. But when she is announced and walks in with his mother and sister, he doesn’t recognize the women standing there…
Charlotte has always been in love with Alex ever since she met him. Lack the confidence to make it known to him since she was but a teenager. But now that she was older she gains the confidence to finally see if she can get him to look her way, along with his sister’s help…

This was a good start to the “Landing a Lord” series. I always had a weakness’ stories when they new each other since they were younger and when the heroine has been in love with hero ever since. I really liked how after Alex realizes his feelings for Charlotte that he wanted to court her openly in society. And though Charlotte was a little fast in jumping to conclusions about situations that came up during their relationship progress, it added a touch of reality to the relationship when you think that she has been in love with Alex since she was 15 and who wouldn’t have some insecurities when things seem to good to be true.
I was a little disappointed that it was really short and I wished there was a little more to Alex and Charlotte story. I wished the author went into more detail about Alex’s friends and also had them a little bit more involved in the story. As well as Alex’s mother, and though Lucy, Alex’s sister, was a little bit more involved, after all she is Charlotte’s best friend and partner in crime.
For a novella, it was written really well. Though I wish there was more to their story, the author did a good job in having the story flow really well. She didn’t leave you hanging and have some areas dragging. All in all it was a good novella, and it has made me interested in the other books in the series.

‘Twas the Night After Christmas (Hellions of Halstead Hall #6) by Sabrina Jeffries

RATING:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

REVIEW:

“Dear Sir,
Forgive me for my impertinence, but I feel I should inform you that your mother is very ill. If you wish to see her before it is too late, you should come at once.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Camilla Stuart”

When Pierce received this letter from his mother’s companion, it chilled him. He didn’t have a good relationship with his mother, ever since he was eight and sent to school. He wasn’t allowed to come home and spend time with his mother or father during the holidays and was always sent to his father’s family. And when he hit the age of majority, there was an incident that had him turn away from both parents and never saw them again. Even after his father’s funeral he never established a relationship with is mother. So after receiving this letter he thought he would do the right thing and say his goodbyes and hear his mother’s explanation…
When Camilla sent the letter to Pierce Waverly the Earl of Devonmont, she wasn’t actually being honest… The countess was in excellent health, other then her being sad and pining for her son who hasn’t even written back to his mother. She wasn’t even sure if her farce would work, but when the Earl shows up, she is really surprised, and scared of her position when the Earl learns she lied. The Earl his ready to leave straight away, but after Camilla makes a bargain with him he decides to stay. After each day he stays Pierce and Camilla get closer and more attracted to each other, but they each have their own secrets and don’t know what to do with their attraction…

Since its that time of year, I have been reading books that has Christmas involved with the story. I enjoyed reading this book and it was different compared to anything I have read. I enjoyed how Pierce’s and Camilla’s relationship grew each day that he decided to stay and how as time went on, he was able to share his secrets with her. It wasn’t one of those, that when they first one or the other or sometimes both had to have the other person, but they actually got to know each other.
Though Pierce and his mother’s relationship was tense, you were able to tell that she was devoted to her son and it made me wonder what happened to make her distance herself from him. It made me look forward to seeing how everything turned out in the end.
Jasper, Camilla’s son, was just adorable. He was obsessed with the “A Visit from St. Nicholas”, but it really came apart of the story in a lot of the activities that the did. And I thought that Ms. Jeffries did a great job integrating both Jasper and the poem in the story.
All in all I thought it was a decent book to read for the holidays since its based on forgiveness and new beginnings.

How to Dance with a Duke (Ugly Ducklings #1) by Manda Collins

RATING:

4.5 Out Of 5 Stars

REVIEW:

RATING: 4.5 Out Of 5 Stars

Miss Cecily Hurston is trying to gain access her father’s club, the Egyptian Club. She is trying to locate he father’s journals of his last expedition, because she believes the hold the answer’s to what happened during that expedition. Not only does her father return very ill, but there our rumors circulating that about a curse circulating him and even more distressing that he may be responsible for the disappearance of his secretary, William Dalton. So, she is desperate to find her father’s coded journals, that only she can decipher. Just as she was leaving mad for being denied she happens to see a very attractive man, that happened to see most if not everything that happened…
Lucas Dalton, Duke of Winterson on a search to find clues about the disappearance of his brother, William Dalton. When he went to the Egyptian Club in hopes of finding some clues her runs into Cecily, not knowing at first that she is the daughter of the man who is said to be responsible for his brother’s disappearance. After clearing the air, they decide to help each other out in finding clues to there questions of, where is the location of her father’s journals and what happened to William Dalton. During the process however, they both seem unable to deny the sparks of attraction between them….

This was a really fun book to read and a great start to the “Ugly Ducklings” series. Lucas and Cecily were fantastic partners. I liked how they new each other strengths and were able to help each other in finding clues to solving their dilemmas.
The side characters were a great addition and makes you look forward to Cecily’s cousins and Lucas’ friends stories which are, Miss Juliet Shelby and Lord Alec Deveril story (How to Romance a Rake) and Lady Madeline Essex and Christian Monteith book (How to Entice an Earl).
I really enjoyed reading this book and was one of those that I could have read without putting down. The story was written really well and kept me interested until the end. They only thing that I didn’t much care for was how long it took for Cecily to get over her past heartbreak and admit that she loved Lucas. So other then that it was an absolutely delightful story.

I Kissed an Earl (Pennyroyal Green #4) By Julie Anne Long

RATING:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

REVIEW:

Miss Violet Redmond wants a husband that won’t bored her to tears. Is even known to get into a bit of mischief to prove a point. While at a house party she hears about the new Earl Of Ardmay, Asher Flint. When she hears his first mates name, Lavay, she is stunned. Since on a little while before a Gypsy girl that read her fortune told her that name. After that she gets her acquaintance to introduce them. After dancing with both the Earl Of Ardmay and his first mate she learns of something startling… That they are after a pirate on order of the king named Le Chet… And after the information she is given believes its her brother Lyon, who left a year ago after suffering a broken heart. After which she gets herself on board Flint’s ship to search for her brother. But what Violet wasn’t expecting was this feelings she was having for Flint…
Flint is known as a “Savage” in the social circles. He lives by is own rules and sets out to look for the pirate known and Le Chet, who he believes is responsible for the death of the Captain of a ship that raised him. After he set sell he learns he has an unknown and turns out unwanted guest on board, Violet. After learning the reason she has placed herself on board his ship, decides to agree to the first port to see if she is right about the identity of Le Chet… But what he wasn’t expecting was the feelings that he felt for Violet…

I really liked Violet’s character. She is quite clever and witty. She yearns for adventure, but figured she would have to eventually settle for a an average English husband. I liked how much she loves her family and is very protective of them and would do anything for them, even sail across the wide expanse of ocean to look for her brother and make sure he is safe. I enjoyed to see her grow and learn new abilities that she didn’t have throughout this adventure.

Asher is a respectable man. He takes good care of his crew. He has an uncanny way of looking through a person and guesses what they need. You find out that he really helped a couple men of in his crew out of tough situations. And that he keeps the things that are important to him close at hand.

I loved Asher and Violet story. I liked how at the beginning they kept each other on there toes. And I liked how they got to know each other and developed there feelings for each other. I liked that they each done something to show each other there love for them. I really enjoyed this book and will probably read it again later on!!