REVIEW: The Spanish Billionaire's Pregnant Wife (Virgin Brides, Arrogant Husbands Series #3) by Lynne Graham

The last book in Lynne Graham’s Virgin Brides, Arrogant Husbands Trilogy where we finally get to know the full story of Ophelia, Nikolai and Molly.

I loved Molly….she is such a loveable character despite the knocks life has give her….given up for adoption after the death of her not too stable mother, by the most horrible grandmother, she has not given up on becoming an artist and is working as a waiter at a party where she has a very eventful first meeting with a drop dead gorgeous man who literally falls at her feet whilst trying to rescue her from a sticky situation.

Leandro is a Spanish aristocrat who lost his wife and has no interest in getting involved with women, a waitress at that…someone totally removed from his world.

But there are some surprises waiting which are going to change her life forever.

After being seduced by Leandro, who cannot resist her…who can…she’s such an adorable character….discovers she is pregnant….yeah…they forgot that important thing….resulting in a huge surprise and shock to both….but someone’s mistress…which is what he offers her…is not Molly’s idea of bliss and naturally she refuses…he then tells her he will marry her…of course she accepts…she’s mad about him….understandably so…he is really amazing…..

I felt really emotional towards the end of this book where she is reunited with her  sister, Ophelia….who I am still crazy about from the first book of this series…. that she has always loved and her long lost brother. The bond between the three is amazing. Molly has finally found her happiness surrounded by a husband who is totally besotted and in love with her, their child and a growing loving family.

I absolutely adored this series. I found the characters so engaging and lovable. And discovering the full story of the three siblings’ lives was awesome.

Another thing I enjoy reading this author’s books is how characters in her other books relate to each other. The Rich, the Ruthless and Really Handsome Series connect in some way with this series and they are all just as enjoyable to read.

Synopsis :

Leandro Carrera Marquez, Duque de Sandoval, was as aristocratic, proud and arrogant as his name...and darkly handsome in an impossible, breathtaking way. What would this billionaire Spanish banker want with a struggling, impoverished waitress like Molly? 

But Leandro did want Molly--and he took her, accidentally making her pregnant with his child. In Leandro's traditional world, there was only one option--marry the mother of his heir. After all, none of his noble ancestors had actually married for love.... 

REVIEW: The Ruthless Tycoon's Virgin Mistress (Virgin Brides, Arrogant Husbands Series #2) by Lynne Graham

This is the second book in Lynne Graham’s Virgin Brides, Arrogant Husbands and I loved it. The follow-up to Ophelia and Lysander’s book 1, this is the story of Nikolai Arlov, a gorgeous, womanizer Russian billionaire, with a connection to Ophelia (though we only discover this near the end of the story!!!) who is determined to get Abbey in his bed , after setting eyes on her at a fashion show. He cannot believe that she wants nothing to do with him and this makes him more determined than ever to seduce her. He blatantly pursues her and wow he is beyond persistent….the word no just does not exist in his world!

Abbey, whose husband died on their wedding day, wants nothing to do with any other man and never with a playboy like Nikolai. He pursues her relentlessly and when he discovers that she is having financial problems with her family company, offers to help her. Unable to resist the attraction, she eventually falls into bed with him but on her terms. He is surprised that he meets a woman who is not after his money, looks and position and worse…she keeps giving him a hard time!!!!

In the beginning I wasn’t that crazy about Nikolai…he seemed so cold, ruthless and remote…and geez…the 3 gorgeous Russian women who worked for him….there’s a risqué scene where the three offer themselves to him on a flight!!!! Wewwww…hot scene and in a Mills & Boon book!!!!! But as I read more about him I realized that there were so many reasons for the way he saw the world and people.

Some really interesting characters form part in this story which I really really liked - and hey for once a Russian alpha male…not that many stories about them around ….some good dialogue as usual from this author. 
There are quite a few twists in the story which link all the three books together and the scenes where he meets Ophelia, a sister he never knew existed was really sweet and emotional…. there is a cliffhanger at the end….to find out more we will just have to read the next book about the missing sister.

REVIEW: The Greek Tycoon's Defiant Bride (The Rich,The Ruthless & The Really Handsome Series #2) by Lynne Graham

Another secret baby, innocent virgin seduced by the gorgeous, zillionaire story was my first thought when I began reading this book by Lynne Graham, one of my favorite Mills & Boon authors. But I was surprised to discover a story with such depth and incredible characters.

This is the second book in the Rich, the Ruthless and the Really Handsome series  and I loved the story of Leonides Pallis, a fabulously rich and incredibly handsome, lonely alpha hero (but has a soft side that he hides) and Maribel, is smart, loving and believes that she is nothing to look at and cannot believe that someone like Leonides could ever find her beautiful…which he does….they spend one night of passion but the next day he does something that has her disappearing from his life.

He tries to forget her but when they meet again some years later at her cousin’s funeral (Maribel has always believed that he was her lover…which he wasn’t!!!), he realizes how much he feels for her.

He also discovers that she is the mother of his baby son and is determined to meet him, but Maribel is not prepared to allow this…..thinking that he would never agree to her terms – that the only way he can be part of their son’s life is if he marries her….of course he would never agree to that….he’s into beautiful women and she is certainly not even close…..and surprise surprise….he agrees!!!!!!

At first I thought Leonides was a bit of a cruel and hard guy and showed total disdain towards women in the first book of the series and the when they sleep together again, he leaves her alone to go and see another women…..i mean…yes he says it’s all innocent….but hell…I’d give him a kick in the butt!!!! But I grew to really love the guy. He truly loves her and their child. And wow did I love the way Maribel refused to be a mat…she gave as good as she got. Not a bimbo this heroine!!!!!

I read this book in one go….guess I really enjoyed it.

Synopsis

He's discovered she's his baby's mother--so now she'll be his bride!

Maribel was a shy virgin when she and handsome Leonidas Pallis shared a night of passion. She assumed he was inspired by his need for comfort, rather than lust for her. However, unbeknownst to Leonidas... Maribel conceived his child.

Now Leonidas wants what's his: his baby boy and Maribel, available 24/7. But the only way Leonidas will claim her and their son is if he takes her...as his bride!

REVIEW: The House of Seven Fountains by Anne Weale

A few weeks ago I was given some Mills & Boon books by a friend and to my surprise discovered quite a few Classic editions from as early as the 50”s. Wow…..I was really excited…. books by Penny Jordan, Anne Weale, Violet Winspear…yes she of being apparently a virgin..well she never married…and who wrote the first steamy hot books for M&B…and by the way Anne Weale also had some sizzling ones…in fact I read somewhere that she is believed to be first M&B author to write the first oral sex scene in Antigua Kiss, pub in 1982 and also wrote a masturbation scene in Ecstasy pub in 1983. Wonder if those two books are still around!!!!

But I am going to talk about the book The House of the Seven Fountains which was published in 1957!!!!!! Of course writing in the 50’s was quite different to the 80’s, so this story is very tame…the hero/heroine kiss for the first time…a rather chaste kiss….well it tried to be more than that but this was not the time and place for good girls to go that far!!!!

I actually enjoyed the story…. at times I did find too much happening, too many characters floating around…though there are some interesting ones….Julian, the handsome, blond and rich dilettante who has a deeper side to him which he tries to hide by hitting the bottle..bottles….Cara, the gorgeous local English  girl who smokes with a cigarette holder and wears fabulous outrageous clothes, pining for someone she believes does not love her so she goes out to be the ultimate party girl in the world of the English “settlers”….Mr Chen, the number one boy of the estate...there are dozens of characters that gives you insight of what it was like for the British living in the East during the 50’s.

Reading the book today who are struck by the racism that existed in that society. Servants are called boys even though they may be adult men, the upper class does not mix with the lowly servants and if you are found to do so, you are immediately ostracized from the group.

I found Vivien to be one of those women who wants to help everyone that is less fortunate than her…..perhaps a bit of guilt there!!!!!but maybe not…this is after all fiction….She’s quite a busy-body but a likeable one and I love the fact that she was not intimidated by what society dictated and lived the life she wanted…she certainly doesn’t bow down to the expectations of the “expats” society. She builds up an amazing relationship with Mr Chen and her staff and all those society outcasts.

Dr Tom….apart from there being such an age difference between him and Vivien….which I suppose was the norm in that period…he turns out to be quite a guy!!!! He does however, tend to treat her more as a child than a fully grown woman who is able to stand on her own.

The author creates a world that is so real…..the way she describes places, a little snippet of Vivien seeing the crew enjoying themselves at the hotel bar where she is staying and thinking “they deserve to relax after their hard work!”…wow certainly not how passengers feel about flight attendants in this age of today!!!!!!

This was a real sweet read. Being one of those Europeans who immigrated to Africa when I was a young child, I could identify with a lot of the things she mentions in the story. The cars, the local community club, the clothes, different foods, different people.

Of course Tom discovers that he loves Vivien…after overcoming his obstacle of not trusting young women because he was let down in his youth by a girl…..cute……

Naturally their honeymoon is slightly delayed because caring Vivien has hosted her now BFF Cara and Julian’s wedding at the House of Seven Fountains.

If you some day discover this book, it’s worth a read. Now going to dig in my bookshelves in the “Classic Romance” shelf and see if I can discover a few more books like these…who knows I might just find a copy of Antigua Kiss…remember the first hot sex scene in a M&B book!!!!!!

Oh yes…check the book cover – I LOVE IT!!!!! It’s so so retro!!!

REVIEW: Dreams of a Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole

 

Am I happy that a complete stranger at my local bookshop suggested I read Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark Series? You bet!!!!

What an amazing world the author created…..paranormal romance chucked in with beyond unbelievable characters…I mean in this book, Dreams of a Dark Warrior, it’s filled with the strangest, weirdest, more than just evil, cute, gorgeous and more supernatural characters than we knew existed!!!!! A world where  witches, vampires, valkyries (who are my favorite – they spunky, beautiful, mad, crazy, gorgeous women who believe in “Women Power”), werewolves war and love with each other……so vivid, so imaginative…….you get the idea!!!!!

I haven’t been reading the books in the read order, the reason being that I just grab any of the books wherever I find them…..can’t help myself…by waiting until I have the whole set…but it’s a good idea to do read them that way…..the world building continues in each book and one has a better understanding about the characters, places, etc.

We met Regin in the first book of the series – A Hunger like No Other…I found her  fascinating …gorgeous, raucous, funny, loyal……..I really liked the Valkyries…all living together in a beautiful estate called Val Hall, where lightning strikes continuously in the sky above it….u see these gals get their sustenance from lightning…figure that!!!!!!. This book is her story…and the man she has loved for ever…and I mean forever….thousands of years….and believe it or not…has remained faithful to Aidan the Fierce, a human berserker. I apologize to the author but I found this on her page which is a good description of the story:

“Regin the Radiant: Her mother’s people, The Radiant Ones, were exterminated by vampires, and Regins lives for retribution. Despite this, she has evolved into a wit and prankster, quick to laugh and striving to be the world’s most immature immortal. Her kisses are as drugging and addictive as the most powerful mystical narcotics. It’s rumored that centuries ago, she kissed Aidan the Fierce, a human berserker, and he’s since been reincarnated at least four times, unknowingly defying death to seek her again and again. Yet always when he unconsciously returns to her, history repeats itself, and just when Aidan remembers who he was and what Regin meant to him, he is killed trying to win her.”

This time Aidan comes back as Declan Chase, a mortal who has been through some horrific things which have led him to join the Order, an organization whose goal is to torture and kill immortals.

The scenes, where most of the story takes place are awesome. A secret lab on a hidden island, where immortals are taken by members of the Order…Declan included and is known as their top killer and interrogator, are so brilliantly descriptive that I felt as if I was one of the prisoners. And what a motley of so and so not delectable characters – Lothaire, a vampire with a secret agenda, who has no problem changing sides….he’s a real Switzerland…..and I want to know more about him!!!!! a  dark fae named Natalya (I hope there will be a book about her in the future)  and Thad, a half vamp (but he doesn’t know it…he thinks he’s human!!!) who share a cell with Regin are great…the banter between the three is so witty and funny that one scene had me laughing out loud…….

“When Thad began nuzzling her neck, pressing his opened lips against her, she smacked him in the back of his head, “Don’t go vamp on me now!”

“What!” He shot upright, his fangs sharp. “Where am I?”

She glanced at his fangs then down. “Oh my Gods, when do you not sport wood? There are bathrooms in the back, so go bury the worms or whatever.”

In fact the dialogue in the entire book is incredible …witty which brings some respite from the dark side of the story. And the story is dark. I hated Declan in the beginning….cruel, vicious and an addict…but as I continued I began to understand why he behaved and felt as he did. He’s like The Terminator throughout most of the book…..at one point I thought Regin would just chop his head off and get on with her life…without him….but how could that be possible!!!!!! They were meant for each other since the beginning!!!!

A story about everlasting, undying love…..no matter what obstacles are put between two people, their love will always win…I believe this so true.

. There were a few hot scenes but sex only really happens between Regin and Aidan towards the end of the book and I did find myself skimming over some of the almost sex scenes between the two….but when it happens…wow…..sizzling hot….and inventive positions that could be termed as XXXXX rated!!!!!

One of the characters I absolutely loved in this book was the raven-haired and oldest  and craziest Valkyrie, Nix the Everknowing….wow when we first see in this story, wearing a long skirt, cowboy books and a Tshirt that read Valkyrie, holding her pet bat, Bertil in her arms like a baby….i almost fell off my chair…..I mean she takes this bat everyone she goes…..eat your heart out Paris Hilton!!!!!! This gal has the right stuff….the style and much more….she can read the future!!!! I cannot wait to read her story.

Immortals After Dark is my fantasy world right now.

The books are definitely going to my “All Time Favourite” shelf!!!!

REVIEW: Her Last Night of Innocence by India Grey

I didn't want this book to end!!!! I have always loved India Grey’s books but “Her Last Night of Innocence” is by far my favorite one. I loved reading about Cristiano Maresco, a famous, gorgeous, rich race car driver and Kate Edwards, a shy virgin who doesn’t believe that she is beautiful and is unable to understand how a man like him could ever even look her way!!!

Their story is filled with pain, sorrow, love and the joy of finding each other’s true soul mates after so many obstacles that faced their lives.

Kate is sent to Monte Carlo by her boss to interview him and catches the attention of the playboy, who is quite happy to seduce her even if it’s just a one night-stand, which is what usually happens in his life with the women he meets in his circle.

After spending a wonderful night of passion, where they discover so much about each other, Cristiano leaves her with the words “wait for me!”. But Cristiano is badly injured in the crash during the race, which results in him suffering not only physically but memory loss and not remembering the night he had spent with her.

Kate was kept away from him by his group of handlers so decided to return home to England, where a few weeks later, discovers she is pregnant with his child. After writing various letters to him and trying other means of contacting him and not receiving any joy, decides to continue with her life and her new baby boy.

Four years later, she is sent by her boss to meet Cristiano in Monte Carlo and is saddened and angry when he doesn’t recognize or remember her. She had agreed to meeting him again as she wanted closure by let him know he had a son and to assure herself she no longer loved him.

Cristiano can’t understand why she feels so familiar to him and why the emotional connection pull with her and just as she’s about to leave, he asks her to go with him to a friend’s chalet in Switzerland. He also begins having flashbacks and is certain that she could be someone who would help get his memory back. But before things can be resolved, she is called back home as her son has fallen ill. She leaves without telling him about their son because he had admit to her he never wanted to get marry or have children. She leaves with a broken heart knowing she will never see Cristiano, the only man she has ever loved, again. But Cristiano finds a letter in a bag she left behind and finally discovers the secret. He has a son!!!!!!

Their time together is so emotional and so intense – so many obstacles in their way before they are able to be together. His memory loss, his love for car racing and her fear of it….her father and brother had both died in car crashes. She wants him to give up his profession before she agrees to be with him. He is unable to understand why she demands this of him. Eventually Kate realizes she is being unfair to him and if she wants his love totally she will have to do something about her fears. And wow…..what a way to go……loved what she did to overcome this obstacle and finally realize that they and their child were meant to be a family.

The author’s characters are so real and engaging….there’s more to the alpha-male hero Cristiano – he’s someone looking desperately for love, to find a woman he can talk and laugh with instead of meaningless sex. Kate, who in the beginning thought might be one of those shy virgins who is trodden on by men, is surprisingly a very capable, caring strong woman who is not afraid to face her obstacles and demons.

Fabulous settings….Monte Carlo and the world of the rich and famous, jetsetter billionaires, beautiful homes and hotels…..

Though this is year another story about a shy virgin, gorgeous millionaire and a secret baby, it had so so much more. It was a fresh and innovative take on this much used plot.

A fantastic, fabulous, incredible story ending - a happy live for Cristiano, Kate and their son Alexander. A truly, real and spectacular HEA.

This book is on my “Most Loved Books” section of my bookcase!!!!!

REVIEW: Sins of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

 

I'm a great fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter Series and have loved and hated …well that’s a harsh word…so let me say …did not like….some of the books I have read. Sins of the Night is definitely one of “the did not like it as much as the others” list. Not there were some things I did like about it but overall I was just not blown away by the story of Alexion (look the guy sounds pretty gorgeous…except that he’s some kind of shadow without a body…but lose that white coat….that really threw me….ugh…white coat…bad enough on a woman but on a man!!!!!) , Acheron’s (my most loved character in this series) right-hand  man and protector, who is sent to earth to sort out the problem of the Mississippi Dark Hunters,  where Stryker (Acheron’s evil arch enemy is stirring them up to revolt against Acheron, which could result in the end of the world!!! Alexion’s assignment is to determine which of the Dark Hunters are guilty or not and to be the jury and execute the betrayers…he’s the angel of death.

He meets up with Dangereus St Richards (I personally hated her name!!!), the first female Dark Hunter in the series, who cannot make up her mind to join the rebels or stay with Acheron. She quickly stays on the RIGHT side ….since she’s now totally besotted…sorry..in love with the “right side” Alexion that is!!!! I just could not engage with this character….French Revolution, aristocratic….even French words thrown in didn’t make me think she was even a tiny bit French!!!!!!

There’s a lot of action, fighting with some Dark Hunters being killed….the betrayers I mentioned above are given no second chance!!!! We meet one of two new characters which I am sure will appear in future books, but none of them really stood out for me.

By my comments so far, one would imagine that I hated reading this story!!!! Well, no. Not hated exactly….there were a few things I loved…..and here they are:

-the interaction between Acheron, Alexion (oh forgot…he’s real name is Ias) and Simi….my most most loved demon of all the paranormal series and books……it’s witty, sweet and so lovable.

-the scenes with Simi as the protector of the baby and Danger…fabulous…love the way she talks about Artemis……

-Acheron…..every word I read in all the books about him I love. He’s just the most amazing guy….so much feeling, depth, dark secrets…..i just wanted him to find his own true love (which I know he does because if you have read Acheron, then u will know that!!!!)

As I neared the last pages, I must admit I that Alexion and Danger had slowly grown on me and wished that this would be their HEA……shock…….yes they do but I hated the way it was made possible. A ghost, someone who was now bodiless……I wanted it to be a more happy ending…but hey they did find each other and live happily together for all eternity.

All in all it was a pleasant read, just one that didn’t grab me as much as some of the other books have done.

REVIEW; Jewel in His Crown by Lynne Graham

I am not a fan of Mills & Boon sheik stories but I do like the author very much so decided to give this book a try. Just like all the other sheik authors, this was a plot used so many times....over and over again ....just change the character names/places and voila!!!!.....the gorgeous zillionaire sheik meets an ordinary English virgin, takes her away to his kingdom and fall in love.....and I wonder why suddenly so many of the authors are using pets as heroine appendages....I mean...a pet rabbit...moreI am not a fan of Mills & Boon sheik stories but I do like the author very much so decided to give this book a try. Just like all the other sheik authors, this was a plot used so many times....over and over again ....just change the character names/places and voila!!!!.....the gorgeous zillionaire sheik meets an ordinary English virgin, takes her away to his kingdom and fall in love.....and I wonder why suddenly so many of the authors are using pets as heroine appendages....I mean...a pet rabbit and now a cute dog!!!!!! I kind of liked the hero, sheik Raja al Somari from Najar has to marry a princess from Ashru, the neighbouring country, to ensure peace between his and that country.....he’s an alpha male but he comes across positively in terms of his response to the heroine’s behaviour... (see more on this next...) not overbearing as most of sheik characters are....read....cruel, self-cantered, and egotistical before falling under the heroine’s spell!!!!! Now, Ruby Sommerton, the discovered lost princess, is another story....talk about an immature, sulky and at times so idiotic I want to slap her!!!!! I mean from going to not wanting to do anything with the princess and marriage proposal because of what her father, the now dead sheik from Ashru, did to her poor mother and ignoring his child’s life, she then, after googling everything about her country is filled with a sudden conscience that she will now do everything possible to help in rebuilding her backward kingdom!!!!!! A 21 year old princess!!!!!!!!! So many clichés.....I felt as if I had read this story before, just couldn’t remember their names!!!!!!!!! It’s not a total horrible book....there are some parts that I liked but overall I have read much better books written by Lynne Graham. It’s definitely not on my favourite bookshelves, where I have most of the author’s books.

REVIEW: Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

 Having just discovered Kresley Cole’s “Immortals after Dark” series, I have been searching for all the books in the series and so far have read 3, which I have really enjoyed. I am not a big fan of fantasy but the combination with paranormal romance works for me!!!! 
Kiss of the Demon King is the 7th book in the series and so far it’s not one of my favourites. 

The hero, Rydstrom, is the deposed King of the Kingdom of Rothkalina, a scarred, horned demon who is trying to get back his kingdom with the help of his brother and all those Valkyrien, crazy women...wow I adore Nix.....what a character......not sure if I am crazy about the horns these demons have....i try to block them out of my head when I read.....maybe I will get use to them in the future...but right now I would love..no horns...who knows he may cut them off like his brother did to please his wife, Holly who wants to live a normal life amongst humans...so cool!!!! 

On his way to meet his brother and find the only thing that will kill the evil Omort, who took over his kingdom and almost killed him, he’s captured by Sabine, the Sorceress of Illusions, the evil beauty who just happens to be Omort’s half-sister. This woman is a heroine beyond believe...beautiful, conniving, selfish, self-centred....I could go on and on ....but wait....why do I like her so much!!!!!!! But I did....because I saw the real Sabine..someone who has suffered so much in her lives...yes she dies and comes back a few times......not how she sees herself. 
After meeting each other...in a situation not to Rydstrom’s liking...of course not.....he realizes that she is the mate he has been waiting for the last 500 years. However, being a very upstanding, honest (unable to tell a lie we are told!!) demon he finds it hard to believe that such a person like Sabine could possibly be the right one!!!! 
What I most loved about this book was Sabine....I mean she wants to change the world Rydstrom has always known in his kingdom...away with boring and drab clothing.....it’s going to be bright coloured minis, laces, gold, gold and more gold (she is hooked and addicted to gold) 

The author’s world building is incredible....a world still in the dark ages and suddenly you “trance” to modern day New Orleans....makes it so much more real to me. Well real in a way...because this world is filled with so many crazy characters...fire demons, lykaens, witches, vampires, valkyrians and others that I can’t remember right now. 
The dialogue is stunning, humorous....found myself laughing out loud a few times.....how could one not when you read: 
Sabine gave a scoff, “I could be virtuous if I wanted to be.” 
In an incredulous tone, he said “You don’t know the meaning of virtue!” 
“Of course I do – it means your thong must be white.” 

There's a lot of action, violence and SEX....wewww...the two just couldn’t stop doing it....with each other, to each other.....i can’t remember when last i read a book that had so many pages of hot, steamy, sexy, hot sex..... 

Great ending......the last scenes are so cute....and of course funny...how could it not be when it’s about this gorgeous interesting woman. 

I am looking forward to read the other books....always surprised by the plots/characters. 

REVIEW: The Sicilian's Ruthless Marriage Revenge by Carol Mortimer

 I have enjoyed reading Carole Mortimer’s books since the early 80”s and amazed how long she has been writing for Mills & Boon....and what a popular author she is...but this is not surprising....she has her own distinctive style of writing, good characters that one can engage with and there are always these romantic twists in the tales.
This is the first book of in The Sicilians Trilogy, not my favourite one in the series but still enjoyable.
Cesare Gambrelli, a full blooded Sicilian...it’s all about revenge, retribution and all that....believes that Simon Ingram is responsible for his death and more importantly his sister’s, which has left him to take care of their son Marco. 
Determined to get his revenge on the Ingram family, he blackmails Robin, Simon’s sister, into marrying him and look after his nephew.
Of course Robin is not going to agree to this mad proposal and being a strong and rational woman fights the intense attraction she feels for him. I admit that their chemistry is pretty hot. She of course falls deeply in love with Cesare and ultimately agrees to marry him.
They have obstacles to overcome- a huge one regarding the truth about his sister’s life which is nothing that he imagined... but in the end their do find their HEA, together with the delightful Marco.

REVIEW: Air Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones

I loved this book. Having been one of those “hosties” with a major international airline for years, I identified with so many of the stories...which by the way have some truth in them even though some might be termed exaggerated....but hey it makes for much more interesting reading.

An hilarious ride..........

The story, told thru the eyes of an airport duty manager, which happens in a span of 24 hours shows us all the dramas that go on in an international airport...from the baggage handlers, check-in agents, flight attendants and more. It’s an hilarious ride.....you now have discovered all the secrets of all those people who you don’t give a toss for and take for granted.....and how they go about getting their revenge on those so called hideous pax!!!!!!!

Yes, flight crew...cockpit and cabin do get up to mischief...though the days of fun times during long lay-overs are a thing of the past. Now you fly to your destination and if you are lucky, have a day there and then fly right back home....no time given for partying...well how much can one cram into a night-stop I ask????

Travellers are given a few tips on how to.....in a fun way.....get yourself upgraded....now that’s very hard...but one can still try I suppose...those drunken pax....they happen believe me!!!!!! And sex in the sky...it’s not a myth......it happened on one of my flights!!!!

I absolutely loved the scenes with the crew in the Dubai hotel. I couldn’t stop laughing...in fact I laughed through most of reading this book. A real buzz.

And finally it did bring back the most amazing memories I have of my flying life.....you know it’s really true.....we flight attendants are really “Jetsetters on the cheap!!!!”...and oh yes buy the book, have a laugh and try not to take it tooooo seriously....just have fun as u turn the pages!!!!!!!

REVIEW: Midnight Awakening by LARA ADRIAN

Lara Adrian’s enchanted world of vampires series was suggested by one of my Goodreads friends....and am I happy she did!!!! I have read 4 books in the series so far and I like it very much.

Midnight Awakening is the 3rd book in the series and by far my favourite....Tegan is a dark, sexy, cold, tortured, loyal and very strong Gen One warrior member of the Breeds vampires who fight the evil vampires known as Rogues. He is determined never to trust anyone or get close to a woman due to losing his breed mate hundreds of years ago to the evil vampires. He cares only about justice and vengeance and has no feelings in his cold heart.

Elise Chace, who we met in the previous book, Kiss of Crimson and did not really impress me that much......, comes back with a PUNCH in this book. She’s a widow from Darkhaven, where she’s been protected after losing her husband and son to the evil Rogue Vampires. She’s on a mission.. She moves out from the safety she has always known to a dark, seedy and dangerous part of Boston, where she assumes an almost vigilant status by drawing out the Rogues and their minions and killing as many as possible. Her transformation is beyond amazing....from being this loyal, quiet, soft widow to cutting her beautiful long hair into a spiky, short style, she is now a dangerous, tough kick-ass “assassin”. I love the new Elise...reminds me a bit of Xhex from the BDB series in a way but just a bit softer and confident, loyal, – loved her diplomatic manner in dealing with the Darkhavens from Berlin!!!! And her way of dealing with unwanted attention from males is to be admired...she’s does do the “break his balls” thing but in a respectful, strong and assertive way that they get the message immediately. She is my favourite heroine in this series...I just love her character....makes me wish I could be her right now!!!!!

After forging an alliance, with both not trusting each, they slowly feel an incredible connection which they fight against. Unable to keep their feelings for each other is very difficult and when they connect.....wow....just passion, tenderness.....really lovely. From the beginning, you can feel the sizzling chemistry between them that slowly builds to a boiling point – finding their love and commitment to each other for eternity.

What really keeps me reading this series is the author’s world building.....incredible. Like her using different settings – Boston, Berlin, Prague....the mix between the two worlds...vampires and humans. Somehow it makes it so much more believable to me. Also including characters from her previous books gets us to become more engaged with them. I so admire her female characters who are not the males shadows but play a huge part in their lives and the struggles and fights against evil. They have a voice and opinion which is appreciated.
The suspense is taut with non-stop action and the dialogue is really good.

I am now a “serious” fan of Lara Adrian and can’t wait to finish reading the whole series.
If you are a “mad” lover of JR Ward’s BDB series, you will love the Midnight Breeds.

REVIEW: The Theotokis Inheritance by Susanne James

I’m not sure why I bought this book as Susanne James is not one of my favourite Mills & Boon’s authors…perhaps the synopsis sounded interesting to me…after all, Greek alpha heroes are my favourite…but the hero’s name should have warned me….Oscar…a Greek!!!!! 
The pace of the story dragged from page one and I kept hoping it would change..but no it did not. I just could not engage with the characters…Oscar Theotokis, the arrogant, sexy Greek tycoon who had broken English rose Helena Kingston’s heart 10 years before are suddenly thrown together again when both inherit together his aunt’s fabulous home, Mulberry Court. 
I found it hard to believe the reason why Oscar had just packed up and left Helena one day without giving her any explanation. It seemed a very weak that she never found out for such a long time even though she had been very close to his aunt, who knew about their relationship and at no time had any discussion about their break up came up. A bit hard to believe that somehow. And more unbelievable….after dropping Helena, Oscar is now going all out in getting her back. What did he do all those years without her????? How can you possible love someone and not even once try to see them again…oh yes, I forgot….this is fiction after all!!!!! Seriously, I know some stories are a bit far-fetched but one still manages to connect and believe what you are reading….however I just did not have this feeling with this story. 

Their romance just didn’t do it for me…eventually when he gets her into his bed, you have lost interest and it’s like…right…what next???? And a tycoon who has his own island but lives above the local tavern!!!!! No, I can’t see a Greek tycoon doing that… 
I was also irritated by all these characters that appear here and there for no reason whatsoever…in fact when I discover who and what they were, my thought was “was this just for filling in pages????” 

Well, these two do get their HEA…naturally….but by the time I got to the last page I couldn’t have cared less!!!!!! 

I know this review is a bit harsh but this should not stop anyone from reading this book. Someone may have a different feel about it. Me, I think I will give this author’s books a miss…

REVIEW: The Devil and Miss Jones by KATE WALKER

 Another story with such an OTT plot that can only be believed in the stories published by Mills and Boon…..but of course it works and one of the reasons for it is that it is written by the most incredible writer, Kate Walker, whose books I devour. 
The Devil and Miss Jones begins with a really funny scene…picture this….a bride, fully dressed for the ceremony, discovers her groom in bed with the bridesmaid..doing and saying really BAD things…and this just an hour before everything is suppose to happen..and she does what any normal, rational woman would do…..runs away…finds herself on a lonely road, rain ruining her dress, shoes, veil and with no one coming to her rescue…when suddenly this gorgeous man …on a motorcycle stops to help her (he thought he was seeing the ghost..but nah!!!). So after much heart searching…on Miss Jone’s part, she gets on his bike and off they ride in the pouring rain to any destination that comes their way!! Now what an opening to the story…but wait…there is so much more….. yes they both experienced such a sizzling attraction…the chemistry is so hot it almost explodes so it is fair to say they find the nearest hotel and wow…they spend the most amazing time making hot hot love…and let me tell you…despite his anger at discovering she’s a virgin…after all, how was that possible he correctly asked himself, when she had been so hot for him and so responsive and how could she know so much about getting him turned on and wanting him to be inside her!!!! I agree with him…oh by the way…he tells her his name is Carlos Diablo (get the devil thing!!!) and she is Miss Jones….some really funny scenes during their lovemaking where they call each other Diablo and Miss Jones….I laughed quite a bit there. 
So after a few hours of passion, he gets up and leaves her alone…she then decides that he only wants a one night stand…pleezzzz what else was it all about I asked!!!!! 
Now cut to…4 months later…..Miss Jones has gone looking for Diablo in Argentina….she sneaked in his bag during the hours of passion and discovered his real name and where he lived…right…that happens often…sorry…it does…this is true fiction…if forget sometimes….so during the passionate moments, the condom broke…oh no…does this happen often??? Yes in these stories it does!!!! And discovers she is pregnant with his child…surprise surprise!!!! She has to let him know..it’s the most honorable thing to do after all. 
Next she is now Diablo’s grandfather’s caregiver…yes all true. The grandfather who had been really mean to Diablo..oh yes his real name is Carlos Ortega….and hers is actually Martha Jones …so she told the truth about her name but not him!!! Okay. 
Anyway, Carlos is summoned by his grandfather and what a shock….the girl for the one night stand is suddenly there, in his home!!!! Shocked. Is she after his grandfather’s money????? He does not trust her. Did he ever think about her during those four months…oh yes…he tells her at the end he did!!!!! It’s fiction guys…it happens here…..so after all the misunderstandings, both realize how much they love each other and go off into the sunset to have their very own HEA. 

I know it sounds ridiculous ….but you know it was quite a fun and good read. Two people meeting under the most unbelievable circumstances…both running way from something in their lives, who meet their true soul mate. 
And really that is why I read these books…because despite what seems so improbable becomes so real and for that moment you are actually engaging with the characters and want them to find each other whatever the costs or obstacles. 
Kate Walker is one of my favorite authors and I can honestly say that I have never disliked any of her books 

Here’s the Synopsis: 
Caught in his inferno… Martha Jones has never taken a risk in her whole life. Until the day she runs out on her wedding and succumbs to the magnetism of a man she has only just met! A man she knows only as Diablo… Lone wolf Carlos Ortega won’t promise Miss Jones more than one searing-hot night. Yet Carlos is shocked by Martha’s sweet innocence. This runaway bride is a virgin, and it seems the repercussions of their sizzling encounter could last forever… 

REVIEW: Not Fit for a King by JANE PORTER

 Wow…this is a total OTT fairytale, where it can only happen in a Mills & Boon story…which is of course one of the reasons I love their books.
Jane Porter is one of my most fav romance authors – I love all her books…my favorite is her Galvan series which is awesome and have reread each book over and over again.
I find her writing emotional and her characters always so engaging even if at times some things are so farfetched…but hey this is fiction after all…and we do want Cinderella to get her prince.
Not fit for King? Is her latest book, the first of the two books about sister princesses‘s HEA.
So what is the first one about?
A story about a princess who asks someone who she barely knows and who is the EXACT image of her, to trade places for a few hours. Hours turn into days and the commoner, Hannah finds herself going to some unknown principality in Europe….to meet the real princess’s bridegroom to be….another arranged marriage…and the gorgeous, handsome, rich rich KING…this time…falls in love with Hannah, who he thinks is the real princess and who he has always disliked. But of course he cannot understand how the princess has changed so much….he has always thought her to be so immoral, so hello…when he discovers she’s a virgin, he is dumbfounded. How is it possible????? 
Anyway, lots of deceptions, misunderstandings….and finally discovering who she really is and by now totally smitten with the commoner Hannah, is unable to marry her because he has to marry royalty…that’s the country’s LAW…….
But everything is sorted out and Hannah and her King, Zale have their HEA. Yes!!! there is a twist to why he’s suddenly able to marry her…but I am not going to give that away…..just have to read the second book, about the real princess, Emmeline. A bit twist and surprise I must tell you.

The story is rather sweet and the Hannah and Zale are pretty cool together…some hot sex…must say I was quite surprised at Hannah’s FAST learning about sex…for someone who is a virgin. But hey…it’s make-believe right!!!!!!

I’ll go out and buy the second book…can’t wait to know ALL the secrets about Emmeline, the rebel princess of…geez forgotten the name of the country she is from…..sure it’s going to be a fun read just like this was.
oh just thought I would include the synopsis
Synopsis
It's the stuff of fairytales Hannah agreed to help out a princess, and within hours she found herself engaged to a king! But this dangerous charade has to end fast, because the electrifying chemistry between them feels far too real!

Zale's royal bride-to-be looks like the pampered princess he's being forced to wed yet she transforms into a feisty woman who makes his blue blood run hot! But is she fit to be his queen? He'll just have to tempt her out from beneath her tiara to find out!

Has Patricia Cornwell lost the “Scarpetta” plot or is she using a ghostwriter in her latest books in this series????
I have read every single book in the Kay Scarpetta Series and liked all of them except when I reached Blow Fly…..what happened from then onwards??? It felt was if it had been written by a totally different person but being the person who never gives up, continued with the books afterwards hoping something would change!!! But no….and Port Mortuary is the latest example of what I mean.

Kay Scarpetta is nothing like the person in Postmortem, the first book in the series. I don’t recognize her….all this garbage of her in the army, her dark secret about something that happened to her in Cape Town years ago, her loss of control in her work, etc etc……
I hated the interaction between her and Benson, Lucy, Marino…who to me have become really hollow and boring……the only light in this was her new assistant…..and Sock, the abandoned Greyhound who she becomes obsessed with!!!!!!

And all those acronyms…hightech..and long and winded descriptions of helicopters, weather reports, computers, SUV’s and more and more….found myself skimming over a lot and I mean lots of pages….in fact I was ready to give up halfway but I needed to confirm who the killer was (which I had an idea about long before we know!!!) and also what would happen to the dog…..what would she do????

I tell myself every time I see this author’s latest book that I will not buy it and read it….but I can’t help myself…in the hope that her magic will return to writing something as good as she did when she first began this series.

REVIEW: Veil of Midnight (Midnight Breed Series #5) by Lara Adrian

This is the 5^th book in Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed – a paranormal romance series that I enjoy reading – having only discovered this author’s books in the last few months I am most impressed with the female and male characters she creates in the series – females who are interesting, strong, tough and don’t become simpering idiots and alpha males who don’t have to dominate a woman to show their own power and strength.

Whilst one could see a similarity to JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series...yes it has a group of warrior vampires, known as the Order, fighting against those who threaten the future of their race but there are quite a few differences.

These are vampires descendant from aliens who arrived on Earth, needing human blood to survive and who mated with human females with compatible DNA to bear their children and thus continue their race. The women are no weaklings…they are able to care for themselves and not afraid to fight. This series has so much romance showing a strong connection and devotion between the hero/heroine. It’s an intriguing world with vampires with a difference!!!!!

Veil of Midnight is the story of Nikolai, an amazing warrior and the Order’s weapons specialist, who has been sent to Montreal to find Sergie Yakut, a reclusive Gen One (one of the first vampire Gens) to warn him of the threat against all Gen One Breeds who are being targeted and killed all over the world.

He meets Renata, an aggressive warrior with a gift that she can mentally torture vampires merely by using her mind and working as Sergei Yakut’s bodyguard.

She has a very dark past and you know that there is a lot about her that will surprise you. You discover that Sergie Yakut is not a nice vampire….cruel, evil and uses her for his blood needs. The only person she cares about is a little girl living in the compound called Mira, who can see the future when you look into her eyes. Renata has been protecting her from the abuse and cruelty that she endures and when Sergei Yakut is suddenly murdered, she decides to escape taking Mira with her. But his evil son, Alexi, who has taken over his father’s empire, has other plans…one of them being to sell Mira to the highest bidder.

Renata realizes that she cannot escape without help from Nikolai, a vampire she does not trust and who she had handed over to the Enforcement Agency, where he’s being tortured by an evil vampire.

They cannot deny the attraction to each other and as they repeatedly rescue each other from dangerous situations, romance slowly grows until they finally fall in love and bond together as a couple.

The plot has so many surprising twists, filled with tension and exciting action happening regularly. The characters – and there are many -are so very interesting. The romance is sweet and hot, sensual and sexy.

What an exciting, dark and addictive world this author has created in the series.

If you love vampires, paranormal romance, gorgeous men and interesting women this is the series for you.

I hope there will be more books in the future. I have added Lara Adrian to my favorite authors list!!!!

REVIEW: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

After having Sin Undone sent to my ‘to read shelf” a few months ago, I finally opened the book and wow…from the 1^st page to the last, I was totally and irreversibly hooked!!!!

I was over the moon!!!! I found the first two books of this series and immediately started reading Pleasure Unbound, the 1^st book of Larissa Ione’s Demonica (how cool is the name!!) Series.

I was in heaven!!!! I devoured the pages non-stop until the last page. I was utterly captivated by everything…the story…of a world like no other… the characters…demons, werewolves, humans, ghouls….the  erotic and sexual tension, the hot and steamy sex scenes, the non-stop action…..leaving me breathless at times….the pace of the story…unbelievable….the plot…awesome. The author builds a world so believable ….engaging you with the characters ….where there’s good and evil in all of us….

In a way, I was reminded of my other favorite JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series….same gorgeous, sexy, dark, wicked, super alpha males but with one difference that I like….the women in this series are not “arm candy” and are not pushed aside so the men are the main focus but are just as sexy, gorgeous and strong and are not scared to kick ass and stand up for what they believe in.

Tayla Mancuso is a sexy (red leather and lace!!!) strong demon slayer working for The Aegis, a council of humans who are bent on destroying all demons. She relies on no one except herself and sees the world as black and white….all demons are evil and must be destroyed is her belief!!! She is injured during a fight with demons and is taken to a secret hospital run by demons.

She is treated by Eidolon, the demon doctor who together with his two brothers founded the Underworld General Hospital (UGH….I love this!!!) that treat the demon world.

Eidelon is a beyond gorgeous, dedicated, loyal and conscientious demon and  a total follower of the Hippocratic  Oath who  is stunned to  discover that Tayla is a slayer …demons biggest enemies….and a half-demon as well (this is a big shock to Tayla, who refuses to believe this).  Is it possible that she’s involved in the latest kidnapping of demons whose organs are being harvested and sold.

Despite all the mistrust between them, they are unable to fight the mutual HOT attraction and I mean HOT…..their sexual encounters are absolutely intense, steamy, scorching hot and there are a lot of them!!!!!  They go through a load of obstacles before they finally get together and have their HEA.

I love the side characters…..Gem, a demon with a secret which is revealed at the end and it’s a great and nice surprise…near the end which was a great  surprise, Kynan, the human aegis slayer and of course…Eidelon’s brothers….Shade and Wraith….these men are something else. Unforgettable characters that you want to know more about in the next books.

This is a book I greatly recommend to any lover of paranormal romance and more….

Oh and finally…what a fantastic surprise to discover that Larissa Ione is one of the writers of another FAVOURITE series – Acro Series (a fabulous and great series).

I am now starting book 2 of this series….can’t wait!!!!

REVIEW: Sin Undone by Larissa Ione

I really like this book....just sorry it's the first i have read in the series. I would have loved to have read the others first as I was a bit confused with all these characters in the story that obviously had a past history together of which I knew nothing about. 

Despite that I got totally into the story about demons, vampires, werewolves,wargs and many others. Sin is the only female demon and has, accidentally caused an epidemic that is killing off werewolves. 
With the help of her brothers......I need to find out more about them and their women....they sound awesome...and Connall, a part vampire/werewolf and past sex partner...note sex not love...well at this stage that is....she tries everything to stop this awful disease from spreading and the annihilation all the werewolves. 

So much happening.....a roller-coaster of action, suspense, sex...wow...and is it hot and sizzling when the two get together....and their falling in love with each other... 
I loved the two characters. Gorgeous, strong, hot for each other....what else does one want in a story!!!!! 

It's a compelling story from the start....dark, wicked, sexy, exciting...the pages just keep turning. 
I loved that these two found their HEA.....after what they go through, they deserve the happiness together. 

Now off to find the other books I missed in this series 

REVIEW: To Catch a Thief (Draycott Abbey Series) by Christina Skye

I have read this book a few times and always enjoy the story though there is one gripe……not enough about Draycott Abbey and all those characters I have grown to love from reading the previous books in the Draycott Abbey Series.

The prologue starts in 1622 with Viscount Draycott hiding a valuable piece of art, supposedly a chalk sketch of the Mona Lisa done by Leonardo de Vinci. A hundred years later, this together with priceless notebook are stolen and  the authorities believe that Nell MacInnes’ father, a world renowned art thief is suspected of having the sketch and try to get her to help them to get it back.

Nell is an expert on art restoration and an avid mountain climber and does not believe that her father was involved in the theft. Before his disappearance, he had asked her to contact his friend in England, Nicholas Draycott who helps her.

Dakota Smith, a Navy Seal working for one of those secret government departments…Foxfire….where these guys are given some awesome enhancements…is assigned to work with Nell to find the art piece before it disappears again.

Both are strong personalities and clashes between the two happen often but slowly they begin to trust each other and begin working together…. though I would have liked to have seen them spend more time together. It’s more about the mission than their romance. Although I must add that the buildup of their mutual attraction is pretty good. Some memorable suspenseful moments……when Nell is teaching Dakota how climb the abbey’s walls with hands and feet only….wewwww….i was holding my breath. This training is vital to ensure that Dakota is able to steal the sketch from a castle in Skye, where a secret auction is being held by a Mafioso from Macau.

Nell is a fabulous heroine. She’s courageous, strong-willed who is able to stand up to Dakota, the quintessential alpha male.

I really like the author’s writing. She just knows how to get you into the story….fast pace, good dialogue, interesting character, great suspense and mystery, the settings of course….and yes we do see the abbey’s guardian ghosts….Adrian Draycott and his faithful cat, Gideon…..even if for just a blink…..

This is not one of my favorite books in this series but I did like reading it again and getting my Draycott Abbey dose…even if it’s a small one!!!!!  And yes I loved the cover!!!!!!