#cathy maxwell

[showtunesdream]

Even though it is set in the Winter, I love this series for October. Check it out!

[thestarfishdancer]

I’ve been on a bit of a reading spree lately (which is nice, to have enough brain power left to read new things!). I picked up this romance by Cathy Maxwell and quite enjoyed it. I liked the heroine quite a bit, and I liked that the two protagonists had misunderstandings that they GOT OVER BY COMMUNICATING. Not always smoothly, but what fun would it be if there wasn’t a conflict to resolve?  I could use fewer family issues - sometimes I just want protagonists to come from supportive, not terrible families, you know? - but it is more of a preference thing and didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the novel. 

[avonromance]

Get your weekend started right with these scorching hot e-book deals!

A reluctant romance between previous lovers. When Lady Constance needs to learn how to wield a sword and protect young women, the former military Saint is the only man she trusts to provide her with the skills necessary. However, he is hesitant to re-open the wounds Constance inflicted on his heart years ago. Download The Rogue for $1.99!

Lady Constance Read is independent, beautiful, and in need of a husband—now. The last man on earth she wants is the rogue who broke her heart six years ago, never mind that his kisses are scorching hot . . .

Evan Saint-André Sterling is rich, scarred, and finished with women—forever. He's not about to lose his head over the bewitching beauty who once turned his life upside down.

But Constance needs a warrior, and Saint is the perfect man for the job. Only as a married woman can she penetrate Scotland's most notorious secret society and bring a diabolical duke to justice. When Constance and Saint become allies—and passionate lovers—he'll risk everything to protect the only woman he has ever loved.

A hot and cold Scottish romance between the moral Lady Justice and the emotionless, yet selfless, Earl of Egremoor. Download The Earl for $1.99!

How does a bookish lady bring an arrogant lord to his knees? Entice him to Scotland, strip him of titles and riches, and make him prove what sort of man he truly is.

Opposites…

Handsome, wealthy, and sublimely confident, Colin Gray, the new Earl of Egremoor, has vowed to unmask the rabble-rousing pamphleteer, Lady Justice, the thorn in England’s paw. And he’ll stop at nothing. 

Attract.

Smart, big-hearted, and passionately dedicated to her work, Lady Justice longs to teach her nemesis a lesson in humility. But her sister is missing, and a perilous journey with her archrival into unknown territory just might turn fierce enemies into lovers.

An enemies-to-lovers romance between the head coach to the local hockey team, the Hellions’, and a tenacious, yet stunning, reporter. Download Head Coach for $1.99!

Neve Angel’s life is all work and no play, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.  One of Denver’s top sports reporters, she's fought hard to make it in a male-dominated world, and she won’t back down from a fight with anyone–not even the Hellions’ gruff head coach, Tor Gunnar. Her hostile relationship with the icy Scandinavian is the stuff of local legend. 

Tor Gunnar hates dealing with the media; at best, they are a nuisance and at worst, a distraction. And no one distracts him more than the scrappy, sexy reporter who gets him hot under the collar. When he wins a not-so-friendly bet with Neve, he decides it’s high time they either kiss or kill each other, and invites her as a date to an out-of-town wedding.

But what happens when enemies become lovers? Will they be able to smother their sizzling attraction, or is it time to start playing for keeps?

A marriage for convenience may be Roman Gilchrist’s only chance to salvage honor for his bankrupt estate. Only one potential Heiress captures his attention, however, she is determined to remain unmarried. Download If Ever I Should Love You for $1.99!

Once upon a time there were three young ladies who, despite their fortunes, had been on the Marriage Mart a bit too long. They were known as the “Spinster Heiresses” . . . 

He’s inherited a title, but not a penny to speak of, so the Earl of Rochdale knows he must find a wife—preferably one tolerably pretty and good-tempered, but definitely wealthy, and willing to exchange her fortune for his family name. 

His choice: Leonie Charnock, one of the season’s “Spinster Heiresses.” Years before, the earl had saved the dark-eyed beauty’s reputation, and she is still breathtakingly lovely, leading Rochdale to hope that their marriage will be more than in name only.  

However, Leonie doesn’t want to be anyone’s wife. Nearly destroyed by the secrets in her past, Leonie agrees to their union with one condition: there will be a wedding but no bedding. But it’s a condition the new Countess Rochdale isn’t sure even she can keep . . .

In order to fool her father, the Earl of Stratton, so she can be with the man she truly loves, Lady Honoria constructs the cunning plan for a fake-engagement with the controversial American financier, Julius Hatcher. Honoria believes she knows all that this brash, but devilishly handsome, party-boy has to offer. However, she soon learns that there may be much more to him.. Download A Daring Arrangement for $1.99!

Set in New York City’s Gilded Age, Joanna Shupe’s Avon debut introduces an English beauty with a wicked scheme to win the man she loves—and the American scoundrel who ruins her best laid plans…

Lady Honora Parker must get engaged as soon as possible, and only a particular type of man will do. Nora seeks a mate so abhorrent, so completely unacceptable, that her father will reject the match—leaving her free to marry the artist she loves. Who then is the most appalling man in Manhattan? The wealthy, devilishly handsome financier, Julius Hatcher, of course….

Julius is intrigued by Nora’s ruse and decides to play along. But to Nora’s horror, Julius transforms himself into the perfect fiancé, charming the very people she hoped he would offend. It seems Julius has a secret plan all his own—one that will solve a dark mystery from his past, and perhaps turn him into the kind of man Nora could truly love.

This Regency Era romance between the sea captain, Philip Dacre, and the vicar, Benedict Sedgwick is bursting with forbidden love. Cat Sebastian brings the reader on the journey of finding natural love, even if its risks it all. Download It Takes Two to Tumble for $0.99!

Some of Ben Sedgwick’s favorite things:

·       Helping his poor parishioners

·       Baby animals

·       Shamelessly flirting with the handsome Captain Phillip Dacre

 After an unconventional upbringing, Ben is perfectly content with the quiet, predictable life of a country vicar, free of strife or turmoil. When he’s asked to look after an absent naval captain’s three wild children, he reluctantly agrees, but instantly falls for the hellions. And when their stern but gloriously handsome father arrives, Ben is tempted in ways that make him doubt everything.

 Some of Phillip Dacre’s favorite things:

·       His ship

·       People doing precisely as they're told

·       Touching the irresistible vicar at every opportunity

 Phillip can’t wait to leave England’s shores and be back on his ship, away from the grief that haunts him. But his children have driven off a succession of governesses and tutors and he must set things right. The unexpected presence of the cheerful, adorable vicar sets his world on its head and now he can’t seem to live without Ben’s winning smiles or devastating kisses.

In the midst of runaway children, a plot to blackmail Ben’s family, and torturous nights of pleasure, Ben and Phillip must decide if a safe life is worth losing the one thing that makes them come alive.  

[betweenthecoversofbooks]

Books I Read Last Week

Okay, peeps, here is my quick-take on three books I read this past week while my sister and I lounged around the house:

The Match of the Century by Cathy Maxwell (Historical)

I loved her Brides of Wishmore series and was excited when I saw her Marrying the Duke series on sale for Kindle, so I bought them all. However, I am less of a fan of this first book. It follows the she’s-engaged-to-his-brother trope that I love (LOVE OR FAMILY, THE HEART MUST CHOOSE), but I think Maxwell tried something that ultimately did not pan out for me. I love the family, I love Elin and Ben and Gavin and all the danger and pistol shooting that happens, so I am looking forward to the other books in the series, but this one didn’t WOW me.

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks (Paranormal/Fantasy)

I gotta say, this book combines the high fantasy genre with the romance genre that I didn’t realize I needed in my life. I LOVED IT. It is a Beauty and the Beast romance where the Embraced, people with magic gifts born on the day the twin moons align, are ostracized for their powers. The heroines of the series are all Embraced, sent to the convent on the Isle of Moon to hide. Luciana, our first heroine, is wonderfully kind and gutsy, and the hero Leofric is just the right amount of tough and squish. The build-up in this novel is FANTASTIC and I am so excited to read the rest of the series!

Until You Loved Me by Brenda Novak (Contemporary)

Okay, this was my first Novak. Unexpected pregnancy for a scientist heroine and quarterback superstar hero who both have their own hang-ups about relationships causes a whole lot of upheaval and drama. And I mean, like, hit-you-over-the-head, rip-the-blindfold-off, holy-mother-of-wow drama. I texted a friend about this book and she said, “This feels like a stressful book. So many THINGS happened.” It was not what I expected, but I did enjoy it. However, there are a LOT of moments where it feels overwhelming. I couldn’t put it down, but there are definitely moments where I looked up and said, “I need a cup of tea to calm down.”

Alright, that is all I have for now! Back to unpacking my book boxes. I am hoping to have it all done this week!

Until later, then!

[yankeecountess]

@alwaysbringabookwithyou JUNE “challenge your shelf” BPC

June 1–”summer reads”

So many romance series that I want to start! Help! Which should I do first? :oP

[beyondboundpages]

Book Review: His Christmas Pleasure

TITLE: His Christmas Pleasure BY: Cathy Maxwell SERIES: Scandals and Seductions (#4) RELEASES: January 1, 2010 by AVON GENRE: Romance, Historical, Christmas Story AGE RANGE: Adult RATING: 2 out 5 SYNOPSIS: ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AT CHRISTMAS!

When her father threatens to marry Abigail Montross off to a man twice her age (and with thirteen children!), she decides to elope instead with the irresistibly handsome Baron de Vasconia. She knows all abut his notorious reputation. He is the most seductive man in all of London, but he’s vowed to protect her, so she allows herself to be tempted into his bed, promising to guard her heart at all costs.

Andres believes he’s entered into nothing more than a marriage of convenience with a charming and very wealthy young woman. But the days–and nights–Abigail spends in his arms soon reform this rogue. He’ll do anything to gain her love–until they each discover the truth about the other and old wounds are revealed. It’s the season of miracles and passion–when love not only awakens the senses but delivers the greatest gift of all...

REVIEW: As much as I enjoy His Christmas Pleasure, I do not love it. Based on the library’s Christmas recommendations, I chose this book. I rarely read romance novels. Despite that, I would like to expand my reading genres.

The book tells the story of Abigail’s decision to elope so that she would not be married to a man twice her age. Andrés, a man notorious for his reputation, is the man she has chosen as her groom. Andrés thinks he is in a marriage of convenience with a charming, very wealthy young woman. As they discover the truth about one another and old wounds are revealed, he will do anything to earn her love.

The book was not what I had hoped for. It’s important to note that the heroine was completely airheaded. She acted like a spoiled brat and behaved foolishly. After standing up for herself, she made a foolish choice. She eloped after her father refused to change his mind. Abby was determined to elope, so she made it hard for them to leave. She got in Andrés’ way while he tried to get them out.

I saw her main flaw as her refusal to share with Andres. She expected him to open up completely. She also had awful and inconsiderate parents. Before she took such drastic measures, they would have forced her into the marriage they had planned for her. Only after she eloped did they say they would have allowed her to avoid the marriage they arranged for her.

Sometimes, Abby appeared to understand Andrés’ feelings. But her selfishness made her seem worse. She came across as callous and immature. The grand gesture occurred on Christmas Day, but it fell short of the heartwarming story I expected.

In romance stories, I favor the girl, but in this situation, I favor the guy. Andrés, despite his poor reputation, genuinely worked to connect with Abigail. He sought to be open and vulnerable with her. He entered the marriage with no expectations of affection, yet he made repeated efforts to bridge the emotional gap between them. His openness and patience with Abby’s immaturity made me more sympathetic to him.

The limited time we spent with Andrés and Abby while building a home was filled with enjoyment. The couple teamed up to make things work for them. I noticed their feelings for each other were growing, and that made me happy. I was here to watch these two grow up, and it was finally happening. Then came the Christmas party and that ridiculous love test, which messed everything up. Although I applauded Abby’s parents for admitting their mistakes, I do not believe they would have forced her to marry the man with thirteen children, based on their behavior.

Also, I do not think her father’s manipulation of her and Andres after their marriage was justified or acceptable, since it was just another instance of Andres being judged by his circumstances and appearance rather than being given a chance. After enduring that sort of treatment his whole life, getting this ridiculous love test from the woman he had fallen in love with made me feel so bad for him. I did not expect this, nor look forward to it.

Overall, this was an okay book. I had hoped for a more satisfying ending. Yet, the drama felt forced, and the characters did not change, leaving me disappointed. The story had potential, but forced conflicts and unanswered questions made it feel flat.

[danielleurbansblog]

Review: The Duke That Marry

Synopsis: Once upon a time there were three young ladies who, despite their fortunes, had been on the marriage mart a bit too long. They were known as “the Spinster Heiresses”…Is it wrong for a woman to want more? Not if she is a Spinster Heiress. They do not settle. Any young miss would be very lucky to find herself promised to a man like the Duke of Camberly. However, Miss Willa Reverly has…

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