Review: His Mistress with Two Secrets (The Sauveterre Siblings) by Dani Collins (Goodreads Author)

His Mistress with Two Secrets by Dani Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

His Mistress with Two Secrets by Dani Collins is the 2nd book in the Sauveterre Siblings quartet.

I haven't read the 1st and I don't think I will in the future...firstly, it's about desert sheiks....which I've gone off...and also the reviews haven't been that great!!

I didn't feel the need to read book 1 and this book can be read as a standalone quite well.

So this is Henri Sauveterre's story. He's been in a relationship with Cinnia Whitley for two years and both enjoy the time they spend together...........he has been honest with her from the start...that he will never marry and she agrees to that stipulation.

But she wants more from their relationship and when he tells her that he cannot expect anything from him, she ends their affair.

Cinnia discovers she's pregnant with twins and is trying to find a way to tell Henri about it - she knows that he does not want to have any children ever after what happened to his sister.

I fell in love with these two characters. I adored the interaction between the two with some really witty dialogue.

The secondary characters were just as engaging. I am looking forward to Ramon and Isadora's story and also curious to know more about the other Sauveterre sister, Trella.

The story line is unique and fresh and I really liked it.

Dani Collins writing style makes it for easy reading. Her characters are always likeable and relatable.

If you love romance and HEA............this is a book for you.

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Review: A Child Claimed by Gold by Rachael Thomas (Goodreads Author)

A Child Claimed by Gold by Rachael Thomas
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

A Child Claimed by Gold by Rachael Thomas is not only an idiotic title......really, where does the whole Gold thing come into the story I have no idea...perhaps I'm too stupid to pick it up.........but to be totally honest.....the hero and heroine in this more than mediocre story are beyond "stupidious"......

The plot is so ludicrious that I had a few of moments like this one......l

Abandonment issues, trust issues.......a bad childhood for the Russian hero...blah blah blah................the heroine...just whined and whined.......geez.....get with the programm girl!!! These two were a terrible match!!! Well, for me at least....

Another "dud" from Mills and Boon!!! Please please let the next one be a good one!!!!! Here's hoping!!!

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Review: Bought to Carry His Heir by Jane Porter (Goodreads Author

Bought to Carry His Heir by Jane Porter
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Bought to carry his Heir is written by Jane Porter, one of my bestest Mills and Boons authors, set on a Greek Island, has a Greek hero...so what could go wrong!!!! Well, lots and lots!!! I was totally be-dazed with this book!!

I absolutely hated this story.....Nikos Panos, the Greek billionaire, hires Georgia Nielson to be a surrogate for his child....now, that doesn't sound too bad, right!!! Wrong!!! Guess why he chose Georgia? Because she's smart...yes....because she's healthy.....I guess so....what we do know for sure is that he chose her because she looks EXACTLY like his dead wife!!!!

Seriously!!! I kid you not!!! How weird is that!!!!!

Now, that's not the only reason that I nearly made this book one of my few DNF's............yes, I did finish it because it is a JP book.......but let me tell you that these two main characters were beyond unlikable.

The heroine was cold...icy cold would be a more apt description of her. And the hero was to stupid for words!!!
I would hate to have had these two as my parents.......I just pity their poor child!!!!

This is one book I can't really recommend...even if you are a Jane Porter fan!!!

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Review: Pride After Her Fall (Mills & Boon Modern) by Lucy Ellis

Pride After Her Fall by Lucy Ellis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 2nd book I've read by Lucy Ellis and am now a total fangirl!!! The 1st one was https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2.... I loved both of them.

Her heroines are unconventional, quirky, unusual and surprising. Her heroes are totally gorgeous alpha males and the settings beyond stunningly glamorous.

Pride after her Fall has one of the most surprising.......amazing plots ever!! I was "watching" a movie inside my head!!!

Okay, so we have a French/American heiress/socialite down on her luck....yes, she lives in a fabulous and "decaying" Baroque villa in Monaco but hasn't got the money for the upkeep. Her father is a modern day gigolo who has been "jailed" for "fleecing" one of his "conquests. The banks are about to kick her out of her home.....her flighty mom...oh she's somewhere in the USA...........she's ostracized by society and spends her nights and days doing something ....never mind.....Lorelei St James is at a very low point in her life!!!!

Enter Nash Blue (don't u love this name!!!!), Australian (wow...that's a change from Russian oligarchs, Greek ship-owners and Italian zillionaires!!!! This Aussie is a former world F1 formula driver, who now builds racing supercars and of course he also does some charity work!!!

And that is what Lorelei and Nash have in common!!! Charity work!!!

This was a total fun read. There are some over the top scenes that I just loved..........when Lorelei throws her shoe....and not just any shoe.............

at the guy who dares to tow her illegally parked Sunbeam Alpine Mk2.

The author mentions in her website that this story was inspired by the Grace Kelly movie, "To Catch A Thief"......so it goes to say that I couldn't get that out of my mind......there were actually a lot of things about Lorelei that reminded me of Grace Kelly.........

Tortured, engaging, damaged, flawed but human characters...........ooh yes!!
Exotic locations...........yep....Monaco & Mauritius

A surprising and unexpected story, which totally engrossed me.

At first I wanted to give this book a 3,5 star rating....why? I thought Nash was a bit of a twat towards Lorelei....I wanted her to give him more of a hard time and let him do some really hard grovelling.....which never happened..............but wait.........I've changed my mind...........4 stars...........because, hell this guy was a hot lover!!!! Was he a sizzle under the sheets!!! Just kidding...........the real truth??? I couldn't stop turning the pages and finished reading this book in one "sitting."

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Review: Kept At The Argentine's Command (Mills & Boon Modern) by Lucy Ellis

Kept At The Argentine's Command by Lucy Ellis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lucy Ellis gives us such a fabulous, funny and totally endearing story in Kept at the Argentine’s Command, with the most adorable couple ever.

Best Man ..............

Maid of Honour............

Both are attending the same wedding at a castle in the Scottish Highlands and their first meeting on a flight is absolutely hilarious. The fun continues when the two take the car trip from the airport to the wedding location.........black-faced sheep on the road, haunted hotel on the way..........dramatic, comical times abound!!!

The banter between these two is fabulous.........you can't stop smiling as you watch them "circle" around each other!! Of course, both have lots of emotional baggage!!!! We expect that - right!!!

If you love quirky, endearing, unforgettable and beyond "off the wall" characters, fabulous locations, great dialogue..........this HEA is just right up your alley!!!

I loved this book. I'm now going to search for more stories by this author!!

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Review: The Most Scandalous Ravensdale (Mills & Boon Modern) (The Ravensdale Scandals, Book 4) by Melanie Milburne

The Most Scandalous Ravensdale (Mills & Boon Modern) by Melanie Milburne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3,5 stars

This is the 4th and final book of Melanie Milburne's Ravensdale Scandals and what a great way to end this enjoyable series - although to be honest........my favourite in this series still remains book #1, Ravensdale's Defiant Captive , Julius's book.

So, HEA's for all the three Ravensdale siblings...well, the legitimate ones, that is..........we now get a chance to meet up with the Ravensdale illegitimate sibling - the love child that the Ravensdale patriarch had kept a secret of.

It's to be expected that Kat Winwood wants nothing to do with the Ravensdales!!! But her father has other plans for her....so he enlists the help of the family's friend and lawyer, Flynn Carlyon, to get Kat in accepting her Ravensdale heritage.

Kat is no walk-over and Flynn finds himself having to work really hard at persuading her to meet her family!!!! They did have some amazing chemistry together and I enjoyed watching Flynn planning and plotting his strategy in getting her to agree with her father's request. I also liked the dialogue and interaction between them...there were some really funny moments.

The reason for 3.5 stars instead of 4??? I wish there had been an epilogue!!! I wanted to know what happened with Kat's career, etc.

I did like this series. The story lines were good and the characters were likeable and engaging.

The books in this series:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

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Review: Engaged To Her Ravensdale Enemy (The Ravensdale Scandals Book 3) by Melanie Milburne

Engaged To Her Ravensdale Enemy by Melanie Milburne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Now we get Jake , the playboy, Ravensdale's story in Melanie Milburne's 3rd book in her Ravensdale Scandals Series.

We have met Jake in the previous two books and he was always a bit of a dark horse and now we get to see what his story is with Jasmine Connolly, his family gardener's daughter. Why she hates him so much!!! Or does she????

Jasmine is quite a character. She just can't help getting engaged to every guy she thinks she's in love with...never mind that this is the third time she gets "ditched".....So who better than to ask for help than her best enemy, Jake???

Their story is cute and sweet and I liked it....just not as much as book #1, Ravensdale's Defiant Captive, Julius Ravensdale's book.

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Review: Awakening The Ravensdale Heiress (Mills & Boon Modern) (The Ravensdale Scandals, Book 2) by Melanie Milburne

Awakening The Ravensdale Heiress (Mills & Boon Modern) by Melanie Milburne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2,5 stars

This is the 2nd book of the series "Ravensdale Scandals." by Melanie Milburne and now we have Miranda Ravensdale story.

I really liked the 1st book in this series, Ravensdale's Defiant Captive https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... so I was really looking forward to continuing delving into the Ravensdale's Secrets and Scandals!!!

Wow, this story just dragged on and on!!!

Leandro Allegretti, the hero was so surly and unengaging. And all that guilt about what happened when he was a child!!!!

Miranda Ravensdale, the heroine, was another guilt-ridden character in this story!!! Her guilt was over her ex fiancée from the past!!!!

I tried to engage with these two characters.........but no, the struggle continued until the end!

Other things that got on my nerves.......all the inner dialogue and internalisation!!! Guys....do some talking with each other please!!!

And the heroine - how many times do I want to be told how gorgeous Leandro is!!!!

I did enjoy reading more about the other Ravensdales........and the ending was better than what I was expecting.

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Review: Snowbound with His Innocent Temptation by Cathy Williams

Snowbound with His Innocent Temptation by Cathy Williams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sweet and cute...I liked it but wasn't blown away!!

The two main characters were likeable enough, but again....they didn't excite me.

Nice plot - pretend to be fake fiancee..........but no sex please!!!!!!! Okay!!! Naturally, two adults cannot ignore chemistry!!!! Right!!!

Loved the Italy setting.

What about an epilogue???? I think that was a big miss for me.

Nice read but I have read much better books by this author.

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Review: Signed Over to Santino by Maya Blake (Goodreads Author)

Signed Over to Santino by Maya Blake
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

SIGNED OVER TO SANTINO by Maya Blake was one of those books that I liked but not loved.

The story line of Carla Nardozzi , a figure skater, who is having financial problems and Javier Santino, a Spanish aristocrat who is the person who can solve her problems was interesting. The two have a back-story, which ended in not such good terms.

I liked Carla but at times I wanted to shake her and get her to get a grip when she was with Javier. He was such an intense, possessive and totally arrogant - especially when it came to Carla.

Their story started really well and the build-up was pretty good but the end.............what an anti-climax!!!!!! It just didn't do it for me. I was expecting so much more.

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Review: The Greek's Nine-Month Redemption by Maisey Yates (Goodreads Author)

The Greek's Nine-Month Redemption by Maisey Yates
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2,5 stars

THE GREEK’S NINE-MONTH REDEMPTION by Maisey Yates is the 19th (wow...) book in the One Night With Consequences Series, which has been a bit of a hit and miss for me....after reading quite a few in the series.

This one has been in-between!!! Not bad but not great!!!

I wanted to like Apollo Savas and Elle St James's story more than I did. It had potential.

Apollo seeks revenge against the man who hurt his father....so why not go all out and hurt that man's daughter, who also happens to be his stepsister (her mother was married to his father...boy, was that woman something else..........horrible!!!) Elle has always felt something more than sisterly love for Apollo but has not given in to her feelings...rather, she's gone all out and gone with other men to forget him.......

The story showed real promise in the first half of the book...but from then onwards....it just went downhill.

I felt a lack of passion, chemistry and heat between the two. When the two actually get it together, it just never felt real and believable.

This is not my favorite by this author - just an okay read.

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Review: Return of the Untamed Billionaire (Irresistible Russian Tycoons #4) by Carol Marinelli (Goodreads Author)

Return of the Untamed Billionaire by Carol Marinelli
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Having read the first 3 books in Carol Marinelli's Irresistible Russian Tycoons Series - the 1st The Price of his Redemption, which I really liked,
is Daniil Zverev's and Libby Tennent's story https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... and the 2nd, The Cost of the Forbidden, which I also liked Sev Derzhavin and Naomi Johnson's story, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2.... and the 3rd Billionaire Without a Past is Nikolai Eristov's and Rachel Cary'
s story, which I really loved....
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2..., I was so looking forward to Roman Zverev (Daniil's brother) and Anya Ilyushin, someone from the men's past in Russia and now a ballerina and who we have met in the previous books.

Sadly, this was the least favorite in the series for me.

I started off disliking Anya but compared to Roman.....I just could not warm up to him at all. Halfway through I began to like Anya....her dedication to her dancing, her love for Roman.......but I could understand her feelings towards him...betrayal and his coldness!!! And the way he treated her was really awful......and how arrogant was he expecting her to get over his reasons for not contacting her all those years....and worst of all, his reasons for his marriage to some other woman..........I would not take his bullshit!!!! Sorry, but he really got my "goat".....I don't care if he redeems himself!!!!

All in all, this has been a really good Series.

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Review: Billionaire Without A Past by Carol Marinelli (Goodreads Author)

Billionaire Without A Past by Carol Marinelli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Billionaire Without a Past is Nikolai Eristov's story and the 3rd book in Carol Marinelli's Irresistible Russian Tycoons Series of the lives of 4 men raised together in a Russian orphanage and how they meet up years later.

Having read the first 2 books in this series, the 1st The Price of his Redemption,
is Daniil Zverev's and Libby Tennent's story https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... and the 2nd, The Cost of the Forbidden, Sev Derzhavin and Naomi Johnson's story, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2.... I liked them both a lot, but Nikolai's story was absolutely mind-blowing.

It's a moving, dramatic, disturbing, poignant and touching story of how two damaged and broken people connect and change each other's lives for forever.

Nikolai had such a tragic and dark past and hid his feelings to the world behind a mask of indifference.

Rachel Cary, Libby's friend and ex ballet dancer, was the most unexpected heroine. She's older than the usual virginal twenty year olds (she's in her early thirties, which I actually liked) and she's certainly not virginal (which I had no problem with). She's quirky, sexy and not afraid to say what she feels and thinks.....and we see this trait of hers when she pushes Nikolai to face his demons and at the same time, he helps her face hers. She makes him realize that's he's a man of worth and that he deserves love and care in his life.

Rachel and Nikolai's story had depth and intensity and darkness too......but at the same time it also hope and optimism and healing. The subject of what the two mc's went through in their lives is one that is not usually used in Mills & Boon stories, but I thought it was relevant and it really didn't detract from this being a very beautiful love story.

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Review: Bought For The Greek's Revenge by Lynne Graham

Bought For The Greek's Revenge by Lynne Graham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

BOUGHT FOR THE GREEK’S REVENGE is Lynne Graham's 100th book! Wow.....I have read a lot of her books and she is one of my fav Mills & Boon's authors.

Nikolai Drakos and Ella Palmer's journey to finding their HEA was a fun and sweet trip.

A twist to the usual revenge trope, I found the 2 mc's likeable and engaging. Ella Palmer's weakness was the love for her family and the reason she agreed to Nikolai Drakos's blackmail to save them. However, she did show some spunk and I found the way she brought love and light to his life really nice.

Nikolai started off being a total cold and hardened man but Ella did something good for him and he slowly realized how much he had lost in his life with his bitterness and anger.

Well written, fabulous locations and engaging characters, the author has given us another enjoyable HEA.

PS.....Loved the tattoo that the hero had on his shoulder!!!!

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Review: Daughter of the Sea by Emma Goldrick

Daughter of the Sea by Emma Goldrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3,5 stars
Synopsis
When her father jumped on the boat with a mysterious briefcase, Rose Harriet Lambert was inadvertently thrown into a debacle surrounding a case of missing money. But she quickly becomes a missing person when the boat capsizes. Lost at sea, she surfaces on a nearby island and is told she's the wife of the mysterious Giles Gendron and mother to Josie. She knows this is a lie, but if she comes out with the truth, she might well go to jail! Will the god Pele be able to sort out all her worries?

Looking through a box of books that a friend of mine had given me years ago, I discovered some really "vintage" Harlequins and Daughter of the Sea by Emma Goldrick was one of those.

So, this book was first published in 1985........wow, over 30 years ago!! Okay, the plot is somewhat OTT...........can't see the same things happening the same way in 2016!!! However, this did not stop me from enjoying this wacky story.

The heroine is her con artist father's assistant, who gets separated from her father and lost at sea on a small island, Moorea, in the French Polynesia Islands after their last heist.

Rescued and taken to the home of and American writer and his small daughter, she becomes involved in a case of amnesia....and is told by the hero, that she's his wife. Charades. Both hero/heroine hiding their secrets from each other....and the hero's rather manipulative young daughter trying to get them together!!!!

What follows is the most hilarious adventure, filled with some zany local characters, local folklore,

some unbelievable behaviour by a lot of the characters and more.

The settings are absolutely fab

............who wouldn't want to be stranded in a place like this...

The scene at the end with the statue of Pele, the Goddess of Fire that the heroine is carrying on the plane is totally off the wall............the connection to Mt St Helens had me chuckling for a very long time.

If you find this book lying around - give it a try. It's actually a very funny and enjoyable read.

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Review: A Virgin for Vasquez by Cathy Williams

A Virgin for Vasquez by Cathy Williams
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A Virgin for Vasquez by Cathy Williams is another story of revenge.

Javier had been discarded by Sophie years ago. She came from money....he did not!!

Years later, the tables have turned. He's now rich and powerful and Sophie needs his help because she and her brother have been left destitute.

I just couldn't connect with the two main characters.

I found it really hard to get into this book and struggled to finish it.

It was an okay read...nothing exciting.


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Review: Master Of Her Innocence (Mills & Boon Modern) (Bought by the Brazilian, Book 2) by Chantelle Shaw

Master Of Her Innocence (Mills & Boon Modern) by Chantelle Shaw
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I barely managed to finish this book.

The plot was totally so not believable.

The heroine was one of the most stupid women ever!!!! The things she got up to gave me a flipping headache.
The hero...well, I suppose he was okay...but really....what he got up to in the jungles of somewhere in South America...see I've forgotten where this damn story is set!!!

Yeah, I totally unforgettable story and characters.

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Review: Bought by Her Italian Boss by Dani Collins (Goodreads Author)

Bought by Her Italian Boss by Dani Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great and fun read Dani Collins's latest book, Bought by her Italian Boss was.

Sexy rich Italian businessman rescues heroine from scandal. Sexy, sensual, emotional.

Great dialogue. Fabulous settings....Italy does it for me every time!!!!

Vittorio Donatelli! Gwyn Ellis! Totally engaging characters.
A plot filled with unexpected twists and surprises.

This is a book I couldn't put down!!!

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Review: The Flaw in Raffaele's Revenge by Annie West (Goodreads Author)

The Flaw in Raffaele's Revenge by Annie West
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a beautiful and poignant story. A different take on the Beauty and the Beast love story.

The hero is a beautiful former model and superstar turned businessman...

"But he was her boss. He was one of the most beautiful men on the planet, and she—

The heroine, scarred as a child, hiding from the world's cruel and prying eyes...living a life alone....

I fell in love with both Raffaele and Lily. They just tugged at my heartstrings. Their journey is filled with emotion and I loved the way that they were able to bring something special in each other. Loved their interaction and how they challenged each other. And their chemistry!!!!

The scenes in the New York penthouse were absolutely incredible. How Lily tried to hide away from Raffaele....sitting in the dark in the garden!!!

More heart tugs....

Incredibly beautiful and unforgettable story that makes you want to believe that love conquers all.


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Review: Moretti's Marriage Command (Mills & Boon Modern) by Kate Hewitt (Goodreads Author)

Moretti's Marriage Command by Kate Hewitt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Kate Hewitt and her latest book, Moretti’s Marriage Command is yet another well written and enjoyable story.

Luca Moretti demands that his PA, Hannah Stewart accompany him on a business trip. He has an ulterior motive .....which she discovers when they arrive at meeting location and she's introduced as his fiancée....the first she's heard about her status!!!

Hannah has worked for Luca for a few years. Her life is dedicated to her son. She has been denying her attraction for her boss but when she finds herself in an exotic location with him, she's unable to hide her feelings.

I enjoyed the chemistry between the two.
Although I felt a bit dubious about Luca and his revenge plans, I did warm up to him in the end.

Hannah was quite a remarkable woman - I could relate to her a lot. Strong, dedicated and independent. I liked that she was able to show Luca that there was more to life than being filled with bitterness and hatred for what had happened in his childhood.

Sweet, passionate and very enjoyable story.

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