The Gilded Heiress by Joanna Shupe

Joanna Shupe returns with a riveting tale of mistaken identities, secrets, betrayal, and a heartfelt romance inspired by the movie Anastasia—all within the backdrop of the Gilded Age. While this did read more like historical fiction than romance, Shupe still manages to add plenty of spice and angst to Leo Hardy and Josie Smith's relationship. The story begins with a prologue providing additional context on what happened to the Pendleton's missing daughter. Soon, readers are suddenly thrust into Leo Hardy's POV and learns that he has been struggling to support his family. Inspired by the character Dimitri, Leo is a swindler and often takes on unsavory jobs to swindle ordinary people of their money. He holds an intense dislike of the Pendletons because of they dismissed his father and ruined his family. Leo ultimately lays eyes on Josie Smith on the streets and is immediately captivated by her stark resemblance to the missing Pendleton heiress. He soon devises a plan to become her manager while wanting to swindle the Pendletons for their reward money. However, what Leo didn't take into account for was falling head over heels in love with Josie in the process.

“I'm never letting you go. It's you and me until the very end, sweetheart.”

In the end, I enjoyed this captivating story inspired by Anastasia and "doomed" relationship from the start—especially since Leo lied to Josie while the both of them were falling in love with each other. Their relationship was quite angsty near the end, which I appreciated, because Leo finally realized the error of his ways and did everything in his power to gain Josie's love again. I liked that Josie was independent and wanted to becoming a singer no matter what. Even after finding her parents again, she was still determined to follow that dream through. There were a few spicy scenes, but I was left wanting more. Nevertheless, they were still incredibly impactful for our main couple and laid the stage for Leo and Josie's love to blossom. Fans of Joanna Shupe and historical romance in the Gilded Age will enjoy this book because it features an unrepentant and mischievous hero who goes through character development to become the the loving and stable man to win Josie's love—a wonderful heroine who had strong convictions and a desire to do good. I loved that these two were able to eventually find a home in each other.

*This ARC was generously provided by the author for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★☆

Cry, or Better Yet, Beg by Solche

Cry, or Better Yet, Beg is the twisted and heartbreaking love story of Matthias von Herhardt and Layla Llewellyn. I was first introduced to this novel through the manhwa and its beautiful art. Initially, I was skeptical about starting this because of all the negative comments about the story and hero. However, I wanted to know for myself how bad it was and I found that a lot of people must have read a different translation or exaggerated his acts. This is a historical dark romance. Matthias was a very complex and ruthless hero whose all-consuming love and obsession for Layla ultimately played a role in his misery, suffering, and redemption in the end. All he ever wanted was her beautiful smile, laughter, and love. His desire and love for her made him do some morally gray things—all for the sake of keeping her by his side. As for Layla, she was a complex heroine who did everything in her power to hate and deny her feelings and love for Matthias.

"If I can't be your heaven, Layla... then I will let you go… So, go. Fly away from me and find your heaven." — Chapter 137

"I'm going to be your heaven, your sky. So please, fly freely. As long as you don't leave me, you can do anything you want. I love you." — Epilogue 4

I absolutely loved Solche's writing, characterization, and her ability to bring everything full circle in the end. Every scene, moment, and conversation between Layla and Matthias was incredibly important and fundamental to understanding their entire relationship. Although his actions were inherently wrong and he "ruined" her life in the process, it also ruined his life in turn because it made him miserable, empty, and broken. Matthias' downfall from the perfect gentleman was incredible to witness because it resulted in his character development and decision to choose love over obsession in the end. I loved every single moment of this book and this will remain one of my favorite Korean historical novels to date.

Note: I read the official translation through Yonder.

Rating: ★★★★★

HEIR by Dani Wyatt and Nikolai Andrew

HEIR by Dani Wyatt and Nikolai Andrew was completely unexpected and incredibly hot. It had an engaging plot and romance between its two main characters, Vasile and Valeria. I was invested in their relationship since the beginning and the way it played out between them left me very satisfied by the end. Not only does this book features several tropes including "enemies to lovers" and "love at first sight" but there is also an arranged marriage between Valeria and Vasile's brother, Petre. Valeria is a princess in name only but due to her father's gambling addiction, she has been pawned off to Vasile's family as payment. What she never expected was to be immediately attracted to her intended's brother and to experience unexpected feelings for him. Vasile similarly falls head over heels in lust/love for Valeria and is unable to keep away. There was a forbidden aspect to their relationship, which made for a tense and exciting read.

Petre is not a good man and Valeria is unwilling to marry him because of his cruel and abhorrent nature of beating women. In order to run away from her fate, Valeria vows to seduce the older brother—Vasile, to escape from her predicament. However, not all goes as planned because Vasile wants to claim her completely as his. I really enjoyed this book and its two main characters. Vasile was a contradiction because he was a good man and but also dominant when it came to dealing with Valeria. I was surprised by him but his domineering nature made for some rather titillating moments between he and Valeria. I also liked Valeria because she made the best of her situation but had a mind of her own and spitfire personality. In the end, I thought Vasile and Valeria were a great match and I loved their sexy moments together. I highly recommend this!

*This ARC was generously provided by the author and publisher for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★☆

Obsession by Dani Wyatt and Nikolai Andrew

Obsession by Dani Wyatt and Nikolai Andrew is the third book in the Royally Hot series and can be read as a standalone since the characters have no connection to the other stories released thus far. I really enjoyed the author's take on erotic historical romance because I was quite invested in the plot, character development, and romance. Anika and Maksim are "step-siblings" but the reality is that they are not. Her mother married his uncle so there is some connection or relation between them. Anika does call Maksim her "brother" and he his "sister" so there is that taboo/forbidden element to the story. The attraction and sexual chemistry between these two was always present and palpable throughout the book. Even though Maksim treated Anika harshly and cruelly in front of others, he was also in love with her at the same time. Similarly, Anika was intensely attracted to Maksim but hated him because of his disdain towards her. The theme of love and hate being two sides of the same coin can be applied to their relationship.

"I hated her as much as I loved her. She stripped me of all my control, of all my sanity."

In addition to the romance, the plot played a significant role in the development of their relationship as Anika's mother and Maksim's uncle sought to control and marry her off to a neighboring country with Maksim going crazy because of it. All this time, he was treating her coldly and cruelly to keep her safe but it was all in vain. With this in mind, Maksim decides to claim Anika as his. At the same time, Anika is resolved to escape her predicament no matter the cost. The push and pull between Maksim and Anika had to be my favorite aspect of this book. When they finally decided to consummate their relationship, it was dirty, erotic, and incredibly sexy. Maksim had a darker side to him and he was ready to unleash it on Anika.

"I feared him. I loved him. I despised him. I needed him."

In the end, I really enjoyed this book and am now curious about the other books in this series. This was previously published as Royal Obsession and although I remember reading that book, it seems like this re-release has added additional story content and an epilogue—which I really enjoyed and appreciated. If you are looking for a spicy historical romance with a dirty talking hero who is obsessed with his heroine, I highly recommend this book. The love and hate they had for each other made for some sizzling scenes as they came to terms with their feelings for one another.

*This ARC was generously provided by the author and publisher for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★☆

Scoundrel of My Heart by Lorraine Heath

Scoundrel of My Heart is Lorraine Heath's latest book and I couldn't be more excited to read it because it features Lord Griffith Stanwick and Lady Kathryn, side characters who were briefly introduced in Beauty Tempts the Beast. Griffith was Althea's older brother and Kathryn was one of her closest friends. Unexpectedly, this book takes us back before the Stanwick's fall from grace and lost everything. I have been intrigued by these two characters ever since I met them in Althea's book. Griffith was always distracted, nostalgic for what could have been, and filled with a sense of urgency to redeem his family. I couldn't help but be captivated by him. With that little glimpse, I was really glad to see that Lorraine Heath was writing a book for him.

Usually, I don't like the "best friend brother and sister's friend" trope but Griffith and Kathryn made it work and they have known each other since they were young. I find it incredibly amusing that he calls her Freckles and is enamored with her red hair. This part of the book felt "normal" but the story soon shifts to one that is dark, tragic, and angsty. It's been a long time since I read a Lorraine Heath book but she excels at writing these types of heartbreaking "enemies-to-lovers" stories. Griffith and Kathryn's love story was actually quite romantic and even frustrating at times, especially when Griffith laments on how he is the spare.

The main crux of this entire story is that Kathryn needs to marry well in order to claim her inheritance. We're introduced to this "Bachelor-esque" Duke of Kingsland who is looking for a wife and Kathryn endeavors Griffith to help her, even at the cost of his own heart. I thought this was incredibly romantic, especially considering what happened to his family and how he feels like he isn't worthy of her. Although Griffith transformation in less than a year was questionable, I still enjoyed his growth. I liked that Kathryn was given a choice to continue her pursuit with the duke or be with Griffith. In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it those who like stories that are emotional and with a hero who will gladly sacrifice himself for his heroine. I look forward to reading the Duke of Kingsland's book next as well as Griffith and Althea's older brother Marcus.

*This ARC was generously provided by the author and publisher for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★☆

The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George

The Heiress Gets A Duke was my first book by Harper St. George and it certainly won't be my last! I was very impressed by her writing and characters, even when I wanted to yell at them. August and Evan's relationship reminded of Lisa Kleypas' Lillian and Marcus and Julia Quinn's Kate and Anthony. There were definitely similarities between those couples. August is fiercely independent and I loved how Evan was pursuing her instead of trapping her in a marriage that she did not want. It was a refreshing take on this trope! He was definitely the first one to fall in love with her.

"I would have one thing that is mine. I would choose my own wife. I choose you."

August Crenshaw and Evan Sterling were both fantastic characters in their own right. Whereas Evan was bound by duty to do right by his family and household, August was a working woman who thought she knew what she wanted. She simply never counted on falling in love with Evan. Their first meeting might actually be one of my favorites. Our first introduction to these two characters was during a boxing match with an unexpected kiss. They didn't know each other then and yet that one kiss was unforgettable for the both of them.

"He wanted to win her on his own merit. He wanted her to choose him. And, more importantly, he did not want to hurt her."

However, there were also bumps in their relationship. While Evan went out of way to chase August and prove to her that he wanted her, regardless of her money, August always thought the worst of Evan and called him a fortune hunter. What infuriated me was her parents' lack of understand and compassion for their daughters. August and Violet Crenshaw were merely pawns in their drive to further their status in society when their daughters always thought otherwise. Her parents were forcing her to marry Evan, which placed a stained on their relationship. This drama drives most of the story until August and Evan were able to resolve their issues and realize their love for each other.

"I don't need a shield."
"How thoughtless of me." A smile curved his lips, and he pressed a kiss to her mouth. "You need someone to fight beside you."

In the end, I enjoyed this book so much and I absolutely can't wait to read Violet Crenshaw and Christian Halston/Earl of Leigh's story in The Devil and the Heiress. We were able to get a taste of their relationship in this book and it's going to be another winner. I know there will be more books coming for this series including Leigh's brother Jacob Thorne and August's older brother Matthew Crenshaw. I only wish we got an epilogue because I would have loved to read about Evan and August's wedding. I highly recommend this book to those who love reading slow burn romances between an American dollar princess and a charming English Lord.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Once Upon A [Fallen] Time by Samreen Ahsan

Once Upon A [Fallen] Time is the sequel and second book in the Stolen series. I read the first book, Once Upon A [Stolen] Time a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it! I do recommend re-reading the first book in order to fully understand and grasp the situation our two main characters, Myra and Edward, are in. Samreen Ahsan once again delivers and I couldn't be happier. I adored Myra and Edward's relationship in the first book and thought Samreen did a wonderful job continuing their romance by building up even further. I can feel Edward's longing and love for Myra, which is a bonus in my opinion.

The story in Once Upon A [Fallen] Time takes place immediately after the events of the first book, which contained a cliffhanger. Myra and Edward are finally together but there are still obstacles in their path to a happy ending. Edward is still dealing with his "demons" and Myra's personality is still the same as ever. She just wants everything now. Another thing was that I thought Samreen commendably wove both past and present point of views between Myra and Edward together perfectly. Even though their romance is still in the early stage of development, Myra is now in Edward's time! However, as with the last book, there are still so many questions and not enough answers. The book does end with another cliffhanger and it is an emotional one at that.

In the last review, I didn't mention King Steven but he honestly gave me the creeps and I don't trust him at all. Looks like I was right, and so were many others. I can't wait to read the next book to see what will happen next. I really really hope Edward will find out the truth. Overall, I highly recommend this series to those who are looking for a solid romance with elements of time travel and history in it!

* This ARC was generously provided Samreen Ahsan for an honest review. *

Rating: ★★★★☆

Once Upon A [Stolen] Time by Samreen Ahsan

Thank you to Samreen Ahsan for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Samreen Ahsan's Once Upon A [Stolen] Time was my first introduction to the author and I can say I am absolutely intrigued by her. When I first started reading, I was captured by the setting and time-traveling aspect. I had hoped for a kick ass heroine, a dark and tragic hero, and an amazing love story. What I got was a little bit different but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. 

Myra was a heroine I had a hard time connecting to. It felt like I was inside a sixteen-year old's teenage brain who constantly had her head in the clouds. She's very into princes, princesses, castles... you get the drift. Basically, she's enamored with fairy tales and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I just didn't connect with her. Edward on the other hand... I was curious about. The premise of the hero living in an entirely different time period from the heroine was quite interesting and I wanted to know how the two could possibly end up together, especially when separated by time itself. I loved reading in Edward's point of view and I felt for this complex and tragic character.

"Once upon a time, in a distant land, there lived a beast that imprisoned his prey outside of time. He captured her, unraveled her, destroyed her and never let her go."

Like many others before me, I struggled with starting this book and had a hard time getting into it. But once the ball started rolling, so to speak, I became a lot more interested and invested in the mystery as well as Myra and Edward's romance. It felt real and I was moved by Edward especially in his affection for Myra.

"There were only two people in this time. Just me and him, as the world spun into a timeless abyss."

In the end, Samreen Ahsan's unique writing and sweet romance between Edward and Myra had me looking forward to the next book. It almost had a Beauty and the Beast feel to it, one of my favorite Disney movies and stories. While the book does end in a cliffhanger and we have no idea when Samreen will write the next one, this was still a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend it for the tortured hero and his romance with our contemporary heroine.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Dangerous Kisses (Guild of Hybrids, #1) by Alice Lake

Refreshing and hilarious new take on the roles of women in historical romances with strong female characters and a romance full of laughs, misunderstandings, and a little heartbreak.

**This book was provided by author in exchange for an honest review** 

It took me awhile to finish Dangerous Kisses but I finally did it! I thoroughly enjoyed my first novel by Alice Lake and am slightly intrigued by the next book since it will be about Larissa, Lavinia's trouble sister. I found the chemistry and romance between Lavinia Halls and Eric Yorke, Viscount Mathieson, to be the real star of the show even though I also found the Guild of Hybrids to be somewhat interesting as well. Heck, a society where women of means could use their talents in order to help other women from harm is pretty cool.

I wasn't exactly a fan of Lavinia's at first considering she literally set out to destroy an innocent man's reputation without confirming whether or not the information was true. Funny enough, her plan actually backfires because she's constantly dazed by Eric whenever he's around and acts like a complete idiot which of course, made me like her a little bit more. The same thing happens to Eric because every time Lavinia is around, he becomes completely enamored by her appearance, personality, and scheming ways. Let's just say these two made me laugh a lot because of their misunderstandings of one another and lack of trust. Thankfully however, the romance does develop and we get to see a more romantic side of their relationship besides their compatibleness in the bedroom. Although the heat factor wasn't very high, I was still shocked by the number of times Lavinia and Eric coupled! As for the evil woman who asked Lavinia to help with Eric's ruination in the first place, I'm still slightly bitter we never got to see her get the ending she deserves.

In the end, I wouldn't have known about this book without the author asking for my review so I would like to wholeheartedly thank Alice Lake for providing me with a copy. If you love historical romances, a feisty and stubborn heroine with a similar hero to boot, then this is your book! Their relationship was hilarious from the get-go and I just loved how Lavinia tried so hard to sabotage his reputation but it never seems to work out. I look forward to Larissa's story in the next book and who her male lead is!

Rating: ★★★★☆

Favorite Lisa Kleypas Books, Heroes, and Heroines

Lately, I've been taking a trip down memory lane by re-reading some of my favorite books by one of my all-time favorite authors, Lisa Kleypas. She was one of the first to introduce me to historical romance in 2010 and I would even go so far as to say that my love for British history and Victorian era stems from reading her books! From her strong and courageous heroines to her heartbreaking and passionate heroes, I've loved every single one of them. And so, I have decided to list some of my favorite books, heroes, and heroines from her in this blog post. Enjoy!

Evie Jenner and Sebastian St. Vincent

Sara Fielding and Derek Craven

Lillian Bowman and Marcus Marsden

Poppy Hathaway and Harry Rutledge

Lily Lawson and Alex Raiford

Livia Marsden and Gideon Shaw

Helen Ravenel and Rhys Winterborne

Holly Taylor and Zachary Bronson

Beatrix Hathaway and Christopher Phelan

Annabelle Peyton and Simon Hunt

Amelia Hathaway and Cam Rohan

Amanda Briars and Jack Delvin

Marrying Winterborne (The Ravenels #2) by Lisa Kleypas

I think I may have found a new favorite Lisa Kleypas hero to love and adore. This is classic Kleypas at her finest!

I've been desperately waiting to read Marrying Winterborne and it certainly did not disappoint! This book felt like Kleypas in her Wallflowers/Hathaways era and I absolutely loved it. I found a lot of similarities between Rhys Winterborne and many her previous heroes from Simon Hunt and Marcus/Westcliff to Cam Rohan and Harry Rutledge. My goodness! You wouldn't have thought Winterborne had any romantic bone in his body but he absolutely does for Helen. Not to mention Helen also reminded me of Sarah Fielding from Dreaming of You. I don't even know where to begin and what I loved most about this book. The longing and yearning between these two was to die for! And their first time together? It was so bloody romantic, sensual, and breathtaking.

To be honest, I actually did not expect this book to turn out the way it did. I thought it would have gone somewhat similar to Poppy and Harry's story in Tempt Me at Twilight but it didn't. It was so much better. The fact that Helen made Winterborne WAIT to marry her was the absolute icing on the cake! Lots of angst and secret sexy times between the two. *winks* The fact that they were constantly longing to see each other... and those kisses! Let's just say Rhys can certainly kiss. Compared to his previous attitude towards Helen in Cold-Hearted Rake, Winterborne has changed for the better and it's because of Helen for she gave more meaning to his life, heart, and soul.

While I was somewhat exasperated by the whole elaborate "drama" between Rhys and his resentment towards this certain individual as well as Helen's constant struggle over her secret, I really loved this book and thought it was amazing. I adored the courtship between Winterborne and his beloved Helen. Kathleen and Devon also made an appearance and we get to see what happens to them.

In any case, I absolutely can't wait for Pandora and Gabriel's book in Devil in Spring because how can you not be excited to read about Devil in Winter 's Evie and Sebastian's son?! And with Pandora?! HOW. I'm rather shocked because I never would've expected to read her book next. Compared to Cassandra who is a romantic, she was so adamant about not marrying and had such a cynical view towards kissing and romance! Here's to also hoping that Kleypas will write books for West, Cassandra, and Dr. Gibson. They all deserve their own stories and love interests, that's for sure!

Rating: ★★★★★

Finding Gabriel by Rachel L. Dementer

Finding Gabriel was my first read by Rachel L. Dementer and it certainly won't be my last from her. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy her story and characters, I loved how she made it a story of redemption about two broken people finding love in the darkest of times. What truly stood out to me however were Rachel’s beautiful prose and descriptive writing as well as the development of her characters.

Set after the destructive Napoleonic wars, Finding Gabriel tells the story of two characters, Ariah and Gabriel, and their journey to heal each other. The book starts out with Gabriel trying to kill himself and even manages to commit the deed until our kind heroine, Ariah, finds him in the river and drags him back to her home. Once he wakes up, Gabriel angrily lashes out at Ariah for ruining his plans but eventually comes to respect her as time goes by. Of course, that respect is also tinged with some form attraction between the two and both characters seem to feel it. However, it appears that Ariah fears this more than Gabriel does. As the book continues on, it becomes rather obvious that Ariah has experienced something traumatic in her life.

In the end, I found myself invested in these two characters and their happiness and wanted them come out of this okay. It was also super romantic—which I loved. Finding Gabriel had passion, intrigue, mystery, action, and PLENTY of heartbreak! Touching on various subjects from suicide, disfiguration, victims of tragedies, and so much more, Rachel’s book made for a very emotional read! I highly recommend it to those who are looking for a different type of historical romance to read.

This arc was kindly provided by Rachel L. Dementer and Momentum in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ★★★★☆

One Naughty Night by Laurel McKee

“You can tell me to stay away, if that’s what you want. I can’t promise I will do it, but you can tell me to.”

And that was exactly what she should do. But it was not what she wanted to do. Lily was suddenly weary of doing what she should do. She wanted to cease to be cautious for a moment, to be mischievous and seize life as her siblings did. Even as she knew it would not end well.

I absolutely adored the love story of Lily St. Claire and Aidan Huntington. It was sweet, extremely hot, and just heartbreaking at the same time. Their attraction to one another was just irresistible! One Naughty Night is simply a great start to a wonderful series about the St. Claire family. I can't wait to read Two Sinful Secrets, which features Lily's brother, Dominic St. Claire, and Aidan's cousin, Sophia Huntington next! We do get a glimpse of the start of their relationship in this book as well as a possible romance between Aidan's brother (David, the heir to the Dukedom) and Lily's younger sister (Isabel, the shining star of the Majestic theater). I can't wait! This book had romance, suspense, and plenty of hot scenes between Lily and Aidan.

“I… I have to go,” she whispered. He stood up beside her, not trying to touch her again. His blue eyes glowed in the shadows. “Where can I find you?” he said hoarsely.

She shook her head. He was a dream—and she had to wake up now. She whirled around and ran away from him, lifting her skirts to flee once again. “Wait! Please,” he called after her. But she didn’t dare look back.

Lily St. Claire is the first sibling to get her HEA in the series. Unlike her brothers and sister, Lily was actually adopted by the St. Claire's when she was a little girl... after trying to pick pocket Mr. St. Claire. Her past is her own story to tell, but I'll briefly explain it. Lily's childhood before she got adopted was actually really sad. After her mother's death, she ran away and met Tom Beaumont -- he is one sick, cruel, and disgusting man. Well, soon after she was adopted, he was caught and sent away to Australia and believed that Lily was the reason that this had happened. Which is why now he wants to enact revenge on her and her family.

She started to turn away, but he caught her hand and raised it to his lips for a quick kiss, his mouth hot through her glove. “You won’t escape me that easily, Lily,” he whispered.

Lily grows up to be a beautiful woman, even though she doesn't think so, and ends up meeting Aidan after her failing rendition of Juliet in the St. Claire's opening play of Romeo and Juliet in their theater. Lily has never forgotten about Aidan -- even though she ended up marrying Harry Nichols, but he died two years later. Three years have passed since then and their attraction towards one another is hotter than ever.

Overall, I'm really glad that I decided to read this book. I needed my historical romance fix and this certainly did the job!

Rating: ★★★★★

Unraveled by Courtney Milan

Oh, Smite Turner. Miranda Darling, you are one lucky girl to be able to finally win the love of your life. Unraveled is the love story of Smite Turner and Miranda Darling as well as being the last of the Turner series. It has been such a wonderful ride! I have been a fan of Courtney Milan since her book, Proof of Seduction... but this has to be one of my favorite book yet! I loved everything about. From the fragile and heartbreaking romance between Miranda and Smite to the mystery behind who the Patron was. Now was that an unexpected twist! I would have never known. But obviously my most favorite aspect of this book was definitely the romance. I loved how Miranda gets confused whenever Smite calls her name; whether it's Miranda Darling or Miranda, darling. I think it was absolutely adorable! They're a perfect match.

“I'm not broken,' he repeated. 'Although at the moment...at the moment, I may be coming a bit unraveled.”

Smite Turner is a someone who I think is the most tortured one of all between the brothers. He has a dark past full of pain and sorrow... and to this day, he often at times has nightmares concerning his past. That is, until he meets Miranda. His relationship with Ash has always been strained; I think deep inside, Smite hasn't really forgiven Ash for leaving him and Mark with his mother. Their relationship will of course finally be resolved by the end of this book. From the very beginning, I have always been intrigued with Smite. He was the brother who was always at the back of the room looking after his brothers. In a sense, this fits his character perfectly because what he does as a living is to look out for others by judging those who have committed crimes.

“You anchor me without holding me down. You frighten me without threatening my future. You're unflinchingly devoted. I love you.”

Miranda Darling is the half to Smite Turner. She is essentially the love of his life who heals the part of him that is broken. Even though as a child, Miranda was essentially happy, the life that she has lived up until now was harsh. She works as seamstress and wig-maker as well as a guardian to a twelve-year old boy named Robbie. Her meeting with Smite was actually quite amusing! For protection, Miranda works for the Patron by going to court-hearings and disguising herself in order to deliver false testimony for the convicted. Smite sees through her disguises immediately and that is how our two pair meet! One thing that I loved about Miranda was that even though she knew Smite had the power to destroy her, she never wanted to let him go. She's witty and just so damn beautiful to Smite that that's all that really matters.

Overall, I loved this book to pieces. It's one of my favorites and the love scenes between Miranda and Smite were smoking hot! Just an absolutely wonderful read. I will never regret picking this series up because even though Courtney Milan writes in a genre where things can often seem typical, there's actually something different about her books! Either it's the characters, the romance, or the story, everything is perfection!

Rating: ★★★★★

Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

Courtney Milan has certainly done it again when it comes to her latest installment in the Turner series. Unclaimed is about love, betrayal, and ultimately trust and committment in the end. Jessica Farleigh has decided to take up the task of seducing the perfect Sir Mark Turner in order to finally turn her life around and start anew. In fact, her story was truly heartbreaking to read... especially when she ends up falling in love with Mark and has to decide upon two choices: either to destroy Mark's reputation or desroy her own self. As for Mark, he is truly a her worthy of Jessica because of how much he loves her whole-heartedly and how he would anything at all for her. When it comes to love, even the best of men... or should I say women, would give up or do anythingat all in order to make their special someone happy.

The Characters:
I vaguely remember Sir Mark Turner in the previous book, Unveiled, but in this book... he definitely makes a big impression of himself. For someone who is supposedly a virgin and a chaste being, he is very wicked in his own way. In the beginning of the book, I didn't exactly get a sense of his 'real' self because of how he often tries to please the public an whatnot. Inside that person is someone who has been scarred by his past and irrevocably changed forever. He has so much dept and I loved his reason as to why he stayed a virgin this long. (view spoiler)[It's simple. He's a romantic who is waiting for that special someone that sees him for himself. Someone to love and cherish and be loved in return. (hide spoiler)] It's no wonder why he's Margaret's (the previous heroine) favorite brother. ;)

Oh, Jessica Farleigh. That's not really her name, mind you. But still. She has so many layers and I loved how even though she set out trying to seduce Mark... she ended up being the one seduced. Like I've said before, her story is so tragic and heartbreaking; mainly because of the fact that she never wanted the life of a courtesan and was forced to be one instead. When she first set out to seduce Mark, she thought that it was going to be an easy trap. But boy, was she wrong. Mark likes her for herself, not the fake persona that she's trying to be. And the more she becomes herself and starts liking him while doing so... this certainly smells like trouble!

The Romance:
One of the things that I loved most about this book was the dialogue and prose written by the one and only Courtney Milan. She's woven a truly wonderful tale full of flawed yet amazing characters. Neither of the main characters are perfect... and yet, I'd say you'll love them anyway. I'm somewhat disappointed in the lack of love scenes between the two, but the author definitely made it up by having plenty of steamy moments and sexual tension between the two. Not to mention that there were also a lot of sad moments between Mark and Jessica as well. I didn't like how even towards the end, Jessica kept shooting Mark down even though we all know that she loves him! Oh come on! Get with him already and get your happy ending! Thankfully, everything worked out in the end... and I got the perfect ending to a wonderful story.

I can't wait to read Smite's story next!! As readers, we sort of get an introduction to his story in Unclaimed... so I'm looking forward to it! Overall, 5/5 stars.

Rating: ★★★★★

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

I think I'm honestly in love with Courtney Milan and her writing. To me, every single book that she comes out with is a shining star in which I absolutely can't wait to read later on! The Governess Affair is a novella about the love story between Serena Barton and Hugo Marshall. It's a gorgeous romance that's absolutely fitting to start this off in an entirely new series called Brothers Sinister. I loved it. I just loved the story, the romance, and how strong and wonderful these two people are. They're different but alike in so many ways. It was so short that I just wanted more from the book! *sigh* Oh well, I'll get more in from Robert in the next book, which I think, is another wonderful story in store for us.

The ending was absolutely perfect! Like most of Courtney Milan's story, there has to be some kind of twist near the end. And that is exactly what happened here! I'm really glad that Hugo finally saw the light and went after his most beloved instead of deciding to live a life without her. Beautiful! There was also a short epilogue where we get to meet 11-year old Robert Blaisdell, the son of the Duke of Clermont, and his cousin Sebastian Malheur studying at Eton. From there, they end up meeting Oliver Marshall, Serena and Hugo's son. Oh snap! Things will only get more interesting from there...

Rating: ★★★★★

The Princess in His Bed by Lila DiPasqua

The Marquis’ New Clothes - ★★★★☆

I thought this story was quite charming and sexy in it's own way. Aimee, our heroine of the story, ends up finding herself in a situation where she has to retrieve a stole ring from Adam de Vey, Marquis de Nattes. What's so interesting is that Adam has essentially been in love with Aimee for six years without realizing it. It was probably because Aimee had been married to his friend, who unfortunately has been killed after a duel, leaving Aimee a widow. I really have no sympathy for the dead husband because even though Aimee had loved him so whole-heartedly, he still went out floundering about and got himself killed in the process. Anywho, and so the story begins with Aimee devising out a plan to seduce and distract Adam while trying to retrieve the ring in one of his many coats' pockets. While on the other hand, Adam believes that his dreams have finally come true and that the lovely Aimee has finally noticed him! It's quite funny, unbelievable, and cute at the same time to be honest.

The Lovely Duckling - ★★★★★

This sweet this story is my favorite one out of the three! It's about forgiving someone as well as finding true love in the end. Emilie de Sarron and Joseph d’Alumbert have known each other for many years; ever since the day he and his friends have scorned her and she left society as a result of it. At first, I didn't like how Joseph ended up lying to Emilie by impersonating himself as his twin brother, Vincet. But then... I would have to agree that if he had went and told Emilie that he was the man who had essentially 'ruined' her image, well. I don't think that would be a pleasant picture at all. But I loved how through all the letters that they wrote back to each other, they both ended up falling in love without realizing it. Overall, very cute story!

The Princess and the Diamonds - ★★★☆☆

Hmm, this was an okay story for me. I didn't exactly feel much for the heroine, Princess Gabrielle. The hero, Mathias Paul Thomas de Tesson, Marquis de Montfort.... Well, he is one fine hero. Very sexy too. Although the story was good, I felt as if it could have been longer and that the characters should have been more fleshed out. In the end, I liked it but I wouldn't be able to remember much about it afterwards.

Romancing the Countess by Ashley March

This review for Romancing the Countess has been long overdue!

I've always had a thing for romance novels where the hero and heroine get a second chance at love. Leah and Sebastian were never supposed to be for one another... but fate tells an entirely different story. Romancing the Countess was definitely a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It had all the elements that I look for in a romance novel and so much more! If you love this kind of genre, then I urge you to read this wonderful book. With a strong and witty heroine and a dark, brooding, and yet a loveable one at the same time to boot, it is sure to be a winner!

The most heartbreaking aspect about this book was the fact that Sebastian and Leah had spouses that were committing adultery with one another. I mean really, how can you live with yourself? Well... they didn't. I felt for both Sebastian and Leah because little did they know that his wife and her husband were doing "things" with one another. Ugh! Anyway, with the pain still fresh and also old as well, will these two ever be able to find and fall in love again?

Ooh, I love this book! Leah and Sebastian's love story was truly a slow transition from "enemies" to lovers. After her husband's death, Leah didn't want to stay as she was anymore. She wanted to change. And well, Sebastian wasn't exactly too happy about that. You see, Leah's husband happens to be Sebastian's best friend. She actually knew about the affair... but she never said anything. Pride is something after all. But personally? I really think she should have confronted those two instead of letting it go on for so long. Sebastian didn't want the affair to get out in public and cause scandal for his son, Henry. So as a result, he must stop Leah from being herself!

I admit, I did not get why Sebastian was so intent on stopping Leah from finding her true self. But eventually, I believe that Sebastian began to see the light! After that, we started little signs from him that show us how his view of Leah is slowly changing him. He starts noticing her lips at first... and then her real personality! Sebastian ends up falling for Leah, and I mean really fall, by the end of the book. Although towards the middle of the book, Sebastian claimed that he only desired her body... and we all know that that's not love! Leah still has trusting issues, so how exactly is this romance going to work now? Read the book and find out! *wink*

Rating: ★★★★★

Always a Temptress by Eileen Dreyer

When I first started reading Always a Temptress, I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about it. Just that I was really angry at both Kate and Harry. Especially Harry! Just because Kate apparently "betrayed" him when they were younger, he finds fault in her at everything she does. It's the usual misunderstanding where Kate believes that Harry betrayed her and he believes that she betrayed him. But the most surprising aspect of this book in the beginning was of Kate's dark secret... about her marriage to the Duke of Murther. Previously in Never a Gentleman, we knew the relationship between Kate and Harry was a special one. They hated each other, but why?

Ten years ago, Kate and Harry were the best of friends. Well, they were actually more than friends. They were both in love with one another. But because of their social status: Kate, a Duke's daughter, and Harry, the second son of a squire, Harry believed that his dream of marrying her was too high of a dream. Apparently right after, his love for Kate ended due to some unknown reason to the readers and Harry left to go to war. It turns out that Kate's father had lied to Harry, which lead him to believe that Kate had betrayed him. Ugh. Harry why are you so stupid? Another thing that frustated me was the fact that Harry took way too long to redeem himself for Kate. In my opinion, I think Kate should have gotten someone who was much more worthy of her. Oh well!

In the end, through the twists and turns of their relationship, everything fell right into place. I liked Always a Temptress, but sadly it was not my favorite book from the Drake's Rakes series. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for giving me permission to read this ARC!

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Never a Gentleman by Eileen Dreyer

You would think that after having your heart being ripped out from you (this is figuratively by the way) repeatedly, there would not be a single trace of love left inside any longer, right? I admit that this book was brought to my attention by the numerous amount of negative reviews and its somewhat controversial plot. Yes, I did understand why Diccan did what he did... but I condemn him for the way he enacted it. My heart constantly broke for Grace because throughout their entire marrigage of convenience, Diccan never gave her the time of day whatsoever. And yet... she still tried so hard to please him and make their marriage a real one. Without realizing it, she ends up falling in love with the one man who can never love her for who she is.

Oh dear, this book tore my heart out into little pieces and placed it back all together again in the end. Never a Gentleman is definitely not to everyone's taste... but if you take a look deeper into Diccan's character, you'll realize that he is also hurting as well. From there, I think you can sort of justify his actions and see why he did what he did to protect Grace. But man, the infamous scene where Grace sees Diccan making love with his mistress was just so... sad, horrifying, and heartbreaking. As if his treatment to her at their manor wasn't enough! Sure, the author described Grace as this strong woman who can supposedly take on anything that is thrown her way. But really? Even the strongest people fall. Love tends to turn the bravest of hearts into cowards and ultimately, Grace became one of its victim.

One of the things that I'm actually glad Eileen Dreyer provided was that readers also get a sense of what was going on in Diccan's mind. While their marriage was one of convenience, he slowly starts falling in love with Grace and sees her for her true nature. It took a near-death experience for him to realize it though! Overall, I really love the whole premise of this book and its characters. I hated the Diccan in the beginning and ended up falling in love with him towards the end... that's really something, you know? The ending was absolutely beautiful because it was just the ending that Grace deserves! I am definitely looking forward to Kate's book with Henry, her childhood friend and supposed nemesis that she betrayed. I'm assuming that they had some sort of relationship before and something happened.

Anyway, great book that's full of heart, tears, and joy. You won't regret reading this book!

Rating: ★★★★★