The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens

We joyfully request your attendance at the wedding of Miss Angelica Cynster…but not until she and her hero confront a devious enemy, and lay to rest an ancient grudge in the Scottish Highlands!

Headstrong Angelica Cynster is certain she’ll recognize her fated husband at first sight. And when her eyes meet those of a mysterious nobleman across a candlelit ballroom, she knows beyond doubt that he’s the one. But her heart is soon pounding for an entirely different reason - when her hero abducts her! The eighth Earl of Glencrae has no choice but to kidnap Angelica, the one Cynster sister with whom he hadn’t wanted to tangle. But to save his castle and his clan, he must persuade her to assist him -- and he’s prepared to offer marriage to seal the deal!

This is third book in the Cynster Sisters series.

Angelica youngest daughter to Martin and Celia Cynster.

Dominic Lachlan Guisachan aka Debenham aka the Earl of Glencrae

We finally find out why the Earl's mother wants to "ruin" a Cynster girl.

The book opens up with Angelica at a ball and taking one look at a dark haired gentleman and saying to herself this is her "hero." She finds a mutual friend to introduce her to her hero, he goes by the name Debenham. After all it's her turn to wear the "tailsman" necklack the the Lady (Scandal's wife) gave her. The Lady gave Heather the "necklace" first and then to Eliza who both found their "hero."

After Angelica is kidnapped by Debenham and is taken to his house, he sits Angelica down and tells her the reason why he needs to kidnapped and "ruin" a Cynster. Angelica listens to Debenham and agrees to help him retrieve the "goblet" from his mother and save his clan. He then tells Angelica the name that he really goes by which is Dominic, the Earl of Glencrae but the Ton only knows him by Debenham. After the Cynster's received a letter from Angelica - they decided to try to find her anyway.

While Angelica and Dominic travel to his home, we get to meet the Cynster family again. The male Cynsters, Jeremy and Breckenriudge trying to figure out what happened to Angelica and the females know that Angelica is up to something. It can't be the Earl the Earl is dead or is he?

The adventure begins for Angelica and Dominic to get home, convince this mother that Angelica is ruined and make it back to London bankers with the "goblet" by the "fifth" anniversary of his father's death, July 1st.

It was fun to see Dominic slowly falling in love with Angelica and Angelica playing her rule as a kidnapped Cynster to the hilt and laughing out loud at her performance. The ending of this book with all three Cynster sisters and their "heros" made me just go AHHH.

I thought this would be the end of Ms. Lauren's "Heros" but near the end of the book we see Angelica passing on the necklace to Henrietta (who is the younger sister to Amanda and Amelia).

Once again Ms. Laurens didn't fail me and I have to admit that I can never get enough of the Cynsters.

ARC received from Net Galley for an honest review.

Seductive As Flame by Susan Johnson

First, let me say that this book may not be for everyone. Our hero is married --- unhappily but married --- our heroine is not a virgin and there is sex -- plenty of sex. Our hero and heroine are like the EverReady bunny -- they just keep going and going and going.

I have to admit that I had mixed feelings about starting this book -- one thing that I do not approve of is an "open" marriage no matter what the arrangement is. But after meeting the hero's wife in one of the opening scenes and I can see why. Talking about a mean spiteful woman and that is all I'm going to say about her. But it did make wonder why the heck Alex married her.

We first meet Zelda and Alex at the hunting lodge of the Duke and Duchess of Groveland Chase (Fitz and Rosalind from Gorgeous As Sin). What I like about Zelda is tall with magnificent flame-red hair and speaks her mind. Alex takes one look at Zelda and he must have her. At first she fights off her feelings for Alex but lust takes over both of them. Alex has a stepson, Chris who is from his wife's first marriage and she could care less about her son except use him for leverage against Alex. Alex dotes on the child and treats him like his own.

As we read more about Violetta 's character I had never wanted Alex to leave this woman ASAP.

Alex invites Zelda to his hunting lodge along with Chris and Creiggy (his childhood nanny and now Chris's nanny). His entire staff loves Alex and is very protective of him because of the childhood and then the wife he married. His staff also fall in love with Zelda and feel that she is just what he needs.

As the story progress we find out more about his childhood and his fragile mother. When Alex takes Zelda to meet her she feels joy for her son because he is finally finding happiness.

My thoughts on this book -- even though the Alex is married you are rooting for him and Zelda to find love and happiness. In fact Alex never really knew what happiness was, he was loved growing up but his father was not a nice person his staff protected him and would do anything for him and his mother. I love when a "rake" falls and falls hard and that is what happened here. Alex would move heaven and earth for her and he did in the end when he made his divorce go fast with all parties involved. I did like Zelda but sometimes she let her jealousy get to the best of her and I wanted to shake her. The ending to me came to an abrupt end and I would have loved to her seen an epilogue. But I have a sneaking feeling that Ms. Johnson will be writing a book about one of Zelda's brother and it's the end of Alex and Zelda.

I purchased this book for my reading pleasure. Released Date December 6, 2011

How The Marquess Was Won by Julie Ann Long

How The Marquess was Won by Julie Anne Long

6th book in the Pennyroyal Series

Did you ever finish reading a book and say AHHHHH!! Well, that's what I did at the end of this book.

Our heroine Phoebe Vale is a school teacher and is hired by Lisbeth Redmond to be her paid companion for a house party.

Our hero Julian Spenser, Marquess Dryden knows what he wants and when he talks the ton listens and follows in his footsteps.

This book has two unique character as their lifestyles which is as different as night and day.

The story opens up with the hero after being shot staggering into the Pig & Thistle and starts to fall to the floor were he is caught by Colin Eversea. As they bring Julian to a room in starts talking about some women not even pretty and talking nonsense. The story then goes back six weeks earlier when Phoebe and Julian first meet at Postlethwaite's Emporium of Lady's Goods who is there to buy Lisbeth a fan. Phoebe overs another visitor bet Dryden 10 pounds that he can't get Phoebe to kiss him.

At the house party Phoebe gets Julian to do things that he's never done before. As they both start to fall for each other and fight their true feelings. Dryden is at house party to start to woo Lisbeth Redmond. The Redmonds hold a piece of land that was once in his family and Dryden wants the land back. Phoebe is aware that Julian is at the house party to woo Lisbeth but that doesn't stop her from staying away from him.

The Silverton sisters - Marie and Antoinette invite Phoebe to their house in London for a fortnight to attend parties and balls with them. Lisbeth is not happy to have Phoebe at the Silverton's residence as she is invited too.

While at White's one day Dryden overhears Waterburn and d'Andre making bets in a the bookie book but doesn't pay attention. Phoebe becomes the belle of the ball much to the surprise of Dryden and Lisbeth.

It was fun to see Phoebe enjoying herself and seeing both of them fight their feelings for each other. Dryden trying to do the "right" thing and woo Lisbeth and trying to stay away from Phoebe. Phoebe trying to stop her feelings for Dryden and for the first time enjoying life.

I was surprised to see Lisbeth turn into the villainess but she the Silverton twins, Waterburn and d'Andre and get their just rewards.

This book had me laughing out loud with the banter between Dryden and Phoebe.

Although I'm still waiting for Lyon and Olivia's story I hope Ms. Long does a story on Lisbeth's brother Jonathan who you just fall in love with.

I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review.

In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster

In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster is the second book in Stephanie Laurens Cynster Sister Trilogy (the 17th Cynster Novel). The first book in this trilogy is VISCOUNT BRECKENRIDGE TO THE RESCUE (the 16th Cynster Novel).

This story starts at the Engagement Ball of Heather and Breckenridge. Eliza who is 24 wants to find her hero just like her sister. Their cousin Catriona has passed down to each Cynster girl a necklace and pendent so each can find their own hero. Eliza receives a note from a footman to meet a gentleman in the back parlor. She thinks the note is daring and heads off to the back parlor in hopes of "meeting her hero." Instead she ends up being drugged and kidnapped. Eliza's adventure now begins!!! She is bound and determined to save herself and remembers some of the things that her sister Heather told her she did. On her way to being whisked off to Scotland, she finally gets a chance to try to save herself. On his way home back to London from Scotland, Jeremy is slowly passing a coach on the road and hears a thump on the coach's window and he sees a womans pale face and her lips moving when he hears a scream. Jeremy continues on but he can't get the girl out of his mind. He finally realizes who the young girl is and Jeremy, our absentminded scholar is off to the rescue.

After turning his horse around and following the coach, he meets with his friends and devised a plan to rescue Eliza. After rescuing Eliza the race is on to get her across the Border to Royce's house who is a family friend to both Eliza and Jeremy.

As we follow Jeremy and Eliza in their journey being chased not only by the mysterious laird who needs to parade a Cynster sister before his mother as "ruined" so his mother could give him back the ceremonial goblet or lose his castle andhis lands. His clan dsees the dispossessed and the original kidnapper who the laird fired after Eliza escapes.

Through their journeys we learn a lot about both Jeremy and Eliza and I grew to love them. Eliza finds out that she is the quite one and finds strengths that she didn't think she had. Jeremy being able to think like his brother-in-law and wanting to succeed in saving Eliza. Along the way they slowly fall in love with each other and Eliza realizes that Jeremy is really her hero.

As one of my favorite things about reading a Stephanie Lauren's book is she brings in other Cynsters and this book is no different....we get to enjoy Gabriel, Devil and Heather along with most of the Bastion Club.

I look forward to reading Angelica's story and I personally hope that this mysterious laird who must kidnap a Cynster woman is her hero. eBook received from Net Galley for a honest review.

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean‏

This book had me laughing and crying.  I was wondering how Sarah would make Simon likeable -- it took a while but she did.  It was fun seeing Julianna slowly break the ice around Simon's heart. 

Simon and Georgiana were both raised with no love, and always being told that they had a duty. I have to admit that I wanted to slap both of their mothers.  For Simon, it was always acting like Duke and never causing any scandal to his family.   God help him if he didn't follow

everything to a T.

  

The best part of this book -- watching Simon slowly melt and not wanting to be perfect.  Poor Juliana, when her mother came back and didn't know that she was in the room, then proceeded to  denounce her father. My heart died a little bit with hers, along with the scene in the barn that brought tears to my eyes. 

I love this book and didn't want to see it end.  I wish Juliana would have more lives.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Georgiana and Benedick each get their own story.

eBook received from Net Galley for an honest review

Invitation To Ruin, by Brownen Evans

I haven't read a book in awhile that packed such an emotional punch as this book. The hero Anthony was raised by his father, while his twin brother Richard was raised by their mother. Their father was a cold-heart bastard who never showed one ounce of love to Anthony. What Anthony had to endure by his father hands and actions had me in tears. Anthony decided at an early age that he would never marry and provide an heir. He would leave that to his twin. Melissa was also raised with no love by her parents, who ignored her until they needed her. Her brother is a slime ball to end all slime balls. Because of his gambling debts, both Melissa and her brother are staying with their cousin, Cassandra. Anthony and his brother Richard make a bet on who would sleep with Cassandra first. Richard gives Anthony the wrong room. Anthony enters Melissa's room and proceeds to make love to her. Melissa who has been secretly in love with Anthony thinks she's have a "lusty dream." When Anthony realizes his mistake he does the honorable thing and offers marriage. When they are caught by both Melissa's brother and Richard, Anthony agrees to the marriage. Melissa refuses -- she wants to marry for love. After marrying,.Anthony tries to ignore her, but Melissa wants this marriage to work . Anthony leaves Melissa at one of his country estates thinking all of his problems are solved. Anthony finds out that his enemy is now dealing in the "White Slave" market and he is determined to stop him at all costs. His enemy, thanks to the help he receives from Melissa's cousin, kidnaps her and is holding her on one of this ships. When Anthony finds out he races to save her and realizes that he does love her and that he isn't anything like his father. Spoilers: Anthony's father was a slave trader and raised Anthony to have no heart or feelings. Anthony's father forces him to have sex with the 10 year-old slave girl and if he refused he would let his men have their way with her. Anthony does have sex with the girl and his father still gives the girl to his men. Because of this Anthony turns into a cold, hard person. Melissa and her friends attend slave auctions, with the purpose to buy slaves to set them free and help them find jobs. While Melissa is kidnapped she is forced to perform an oral sex act on the villain. This book may not be for everyone due to the slavery theme. I am looking forward to Richard's story. My rating - A-/hot Book was purchased at Borders.com