Richelle Mead - Blood Promise

Rose has set course to Siberia to kill, leaving Lissa and Vampire Academy behind... To kill strigoi and one in particular: Dimitri, the man she loves.
On her quest she meets a lot of new people. Until at last an Alchemist finds her and guides her to a dhampir town and straight to the Belikovs.. With some luck and interference from Sydney and Abe (a Moroi with a badass attitude and lots of influence) Rose ends up with Dimitri's family. They take her in as if she was one of them. But not everyone is happy to have her there. His grandmother wants her to continue her quest, a Moroi named Abe is very eager to get her back to Vampire Academy. She gets to meet Mark and Oksana, who are also bonded and shadow kissed. She learns another 'power' she has and she discovers other ways to live as a dhampir besides being guardian or blood whore.
All the time she keeps an eye on Lissa too, who is showing some strange behavior since Rose left and she is making new friends.
After a deal (read: blackmail) with Abe, she leaves Baia to team up with some rogue guardians. One mission: finally find Dimitri and set his soul free... But more and more the question arises: will she be able to kill the man who taught her everything and can she find the courage to put a stake in the heart of the man she loves with heart and soul...

I absolutely loved this book. We get to see Rose grow up, without losing her essence. She's still strong willed and spontaneous, but she learned how to curb her temper. It's heartbreaking to read her flashbacks about happier times with Dimitri, her need to be close to his family. The times she gets into Lissa’s head or when Adrian visits her in her dreams, lets her keep an eye on how things are going over there.
Lissa is struggling on her own. The not so subtle tactics of the queen, the loss of Rose and the realization that she might have done things differently. And although she finds new friends, she seems to be losing her old ones, even the one closest to her heart. Through the book we can sense the underlying political dissatisfaction arising and in the end old enemies might be powerful allies.
There's no way I'll tell whether she finds Dimitri. Just find the books (or the series) and read them.
It's wonderful and heartbreaking. Richelle Mead did a wonderful job and this series is a gem for young and not so young! I’m sure lots of people will have to keep the tissues close by. And the wait till Spirit Bound will be long. Lots of questions and lots of loose ends, but most of all, lots of hope...

To read: Allegra Gray - Nothing but Scandal

I just finished this debut and I really liked it!
Regency lovers should give this a try!



It all starts with an innocent proposition

When her father dies, leaving her penniless and without prospects, Elizabeth Medford is faced with a horrible future: marriage to the utterly vile Harold Wetherby. Her family thinks he’s a brilliant choice, but Elizabeth has witnessed Wetherby's cruel nature and knows a life with him would be a miserable one.. If only he didn’t want to marry her…but for that to be the case, she would have to have a damaged reputation, and despite her father’s missteps, Elizabeth’s own name is pristine among society.

So far…

But innocence is in the eye of the beholder

A brilliant plan is hatched: Elizabeth will organize her own ruin and escape the betrothal, leaving her old life behind. The only hitch is the man she hopes will do the ruining—the irresistible Alex Bainbridge, Duke of Beaufort. Alex is no stranger to scandal. But he has secrets of his own that make Elizabeth Medford a woman he should avoid at all costs--for both their sakes. He insists he will have no part in her crazy scheme…no matter how tempting she may be…

Sabrina Jeffries - Let Sleeping Rogues Lie

When Lord Norcourt needs help from Madeline Prescott to enroll his niece into Mrs. Harris' school, she finally sees a way to help restore her dad in more than one way.
So when he agrees to teach rakehell lessons, she is determined to use him to get to one of his friends.
Unfortunately for Madeline, Anthony isn't the dimwitted scoundrel society thinks he is. So instead of just playing along he sets out to discover the truth, ruthlessly using seduction to get it.
And as Madeline realises there's more than meets the eye about the viscount she realises that her plans might interfere with his... Even more, that the feelings she is developing for the scoundrel turn out to be more than mere curiosity.

I've always loved Sabrina Jeffries' books. But with this one, and Beware of a Scot's revenge, she pulls romance to a higher level.
In this book we have a mix of laughter, sensuality, love and emotions. Put together in such a way it will keep you turning the pages until you are able to close the book with a deep sigh of satisfaction.

Anthony, Viscount Norcourt is a rakehell pure sang. Nothing is save for this scoundrel, aside from virgins and wedding minded women. But Anthony has a past that left deep emotional scars. It turned the reckless boy he used to be into the wicked rogue he became. But then he must save another from the evil he had to face, and the only way to do that is to redeem himself into society's eyes. One way to do that is to gain Madeline's help. But he didn't realize that Madeline with her quick mind and sharp eyes would be the reason to change his ways all by herself.

Madeline needs his help. He might be the solution to restore her dad's good health and name. So she conditions her help to him helping her gaining access to his friends. But while she sees he is trying to figure out the truth, she is helpless against his honest and experienced seductions. Succumbing more and more each moment they spend together she realises that his help might thwart with his plans. When she finally finds out why the enrollment is so important to him, Madeline is torn between her dad and her lover.

Let Sleeping Rogues Lie is a wonderful story about love and trust and how love can heal most scars. Madeline is the perfect woman for a man as Anthony. Strong and determined, caring and compassionate. While Anthony is a scoundrel, you can't help but fall in love with him the minute you see through his eyes.

Sabrina Jeffries put together a tale that is so delightful and sensual that you won't be able to put it aside until you reach the last page...

Vanessa Kelly - Mastering the Marquess (ARC review)

Book will be released April 2009

Meredith Burnley is faced with a dire situation. Her uncle is threatening to put her beloved half sister Annabel in a madhouse and marry her of to her cousin. Meredith sees but on option and that is to seek help from Annabel’s family in London.
The only way to get Annabel out of the clutches of her uncle is marriage. So with the support of Lady Stanton, Annabel’s grandmother, and her nephew Lord Silverton Annabel is being introduced into the Ton. Marrying Silverton is a perfect solution. But Meredith never imagined falling in love with the handsome marquess. Since she is nothing more than a merchant’s daughter, her infatuation seems hopeless, whatever Silverton may say… She will never stand in the way of her sister’s safety and after all, who would accept her as marchioness…

This is the debut of Vanessa Kelly and what a debut it is.

Silverton is a charming, arrogant and amusing. I found myself liking him from the moment I met him. He’s caring. For his family, but also for Meredith and Annabel. His interaction with Robert is hilarious and loving. I love how he counters Meredith’s every objection, knowing she’ll only dig up more…

Meredith is a very down to earth woman. She knows she’ll never be accepted by the Ton and doesn’t make a fuss about it. She only wants what is best for Annabel, even if that means getting over her crush with Silverton. But when the crush develops into an all consuming love and Annabel has set her eye on someone else, it gets harder to deny the fierce attraction between them.

Vanessa Kelly’ debut is a sizzling, humorous and sensual story that places you alongside the main characters. She describes the persons, environment and habits in a way you feel you are right there with them.

There is passion in it, but also lots of humor. The way Robert and Silverton interact, but also when fe Silverton asks Meredith to use his first name.
Her secondary characters are wonderful. Robert and Annabel, but also Trask and Sophia. I look forward to reading more about them…

Mastering the Marquess is passionate and emotional, humorous and sensual. With her debut novel Vanessa Kelly starts with a bang! I kept turning the pages, laughing and rolling my eyes at Meredith’s antics.

I can highly recommend this book and spring 2010 is marked already, since then we’ll get the Earl of Trask and Sophia’s story…

New discovery: Vanessa kelly

When I was researching I found this new author Vanessa Kelly.
Her debut Mastering the Marquess is planned for April 2009 and sounds very promising!



Country spinster Meredith Burnley will do anything to save her half-sister Annabel, including risking her own life and sacrificing her only chance for happiness. When Annabel’s guardian threatens to lock her up in a lunatic asylum, Meredith vows to find a husband to protect the girl, and the arrogant and powerful Marquess of Silverton seems like the perfect man to keep Annabel safe.
The ton’s most popular rake, Silverton hides a growing disgust with his inability to feel any emotion for the beautiful girls thrown his way. But he needs to marry, and Annabel will serve his purposes. Silverton is stunned, however, by his fierce attraction to the unfashionable Meredith, whose quiet ways conceal a passionate and sensual nature. He’s determined to claim her, in spite of his promise to woo her sister.

Meredith knows she must never betray Annabel, or succumb to the charms of the sophisticated Marquess of Silverton. Her willpower, though, is no match for his skillful and relentless seduction, or the temptation of forbidden love. But her surrender to passion soon puts Meredith and Annabel in danger, and only Silverton can rescue them. The arrogant Marquess must be willing to risk everything--especially his heart--or lose Meredith, and his last chance for love.

You can read an excerpt HERE

Elizabeth Hoyt - The Raven Prince

When widowed Anna comes home after a shopping trip and nearly ridden down by a brutal man on a horseback, she must face the fact that their finances are in very dire straits… Being a woman without male family she doesn’t have much options. But luck is smiling her way, because the Earl of Swartingham is in need of a secretary. After making his previous flee, he demands a new one, the next day..
At first he isn’t thrilled about the idea of having Anna as his secretary, soon those feelings are replaced with something more passionate. Being scarred after smallpox, he’s sure Anna is disgusted by his body as so many women before her. But Anna is experiencing everything but repulsion. So when she finds out he’s heading to London to satisfy his baser needs, she intervenes to make sure she’s the one to fulfill his passionate desires…
After reading several reviews I was very anxious to read this one. But my high hopes weren’t completely satisfied…
Even though the plot is very interesting, it just doesn’t completely live up to my expectations. I never found Edward that brutish or bad tempered. So the previous secretaries must have be real chickens… I loved the scenes in the brothel, but it also gave me a bad feeling… I was hoping in a way he’d find out.
Anna is a very nice woman. Not bothering with rules when she needs to make money, determined to put aside her previous restricting life when a woman in need has to rely on her, even though a honorable woman like Anna mustn’t be seen with a whore.
I can’t say I didn’t like this book. It’s just when you expect a lot, you are left behind with a bad feeling when the expectations aren’t met. I never found myself drawn into the book. Enthralled by Edward and Anna.
I really hope to get some other readers reacting about how they felt about this book…

Delilah Marvelle - Mistress of pleasure

Maybelle is horrified by her grandmothers idea of teaching gentlemen the art of seduction. Her grandmother is a former courtesan, so living a scandalous life has always been Maybelle way of life. But teaching men how to pleasure their women is a brigde too far in Maybelle’s eyes.
But Maybelle is also curious about what drew her grandmother to that way of life, so tired of her virginity she decides to get rid of it and have one tryst with a gentleman. At a soiree she meets the Duke of Rutherford. Captivated by the mysterious woman he follows her into the garden and soon they find themselves in a very compromising position. When Edmund realizes he has deflowered a virgin he is flabbergasted and Maybelle takes the opportunity to flee.
When her grandmother has a mild stroke and is forced to keep the bed, Maybelle sees no other option but to open the school herself, teaching 5 gentlemen the art of seduction. Edmund is among them. After their encounter he wants Maybelle to become his wife (with a little persuation and blackmailing of his mother) but Maybelle refuses, so this is his way to gain entrance into her life.

Mistress of pleasure is a sizzling debut, with a high level of passion en seduction.
Edmund is trying to leave his father’s scandal behind and Maybelle isn’t really being part of that plan. But the attraction between them is instantaneous and intense. So using the school to seduce it’s teacher seems the best option for Edmund.
Maybelle wants a quiet life without much scandal. Her grandmother isn’t helping with her new school, but the love Maybelle has for her grandmother makes her take the position of a teacher when needed.
I truly liked this story. It’s well paced with a high level of erotic scenes, but a story to match it. Since it’s the first novel of this writer, I’ll look forward to the next one about one of the other students. They are all very fascinating in their own unique way and I’m sure Delilah Marvell will give them a heroine to match their needs.